Will Group Think Win?

As our country heads into the summer, we find ourselves with an abundance of data, opinions, and questions. But, there’s something more troubling we also find in abundance today—a deficit of common sense.

What exactly is common sense? Well, my grandmother referred to it as good old-fashioned horse-sense. Have you ever heard of that expression? I prefer to think of common sense as practical wisdom.

I’m talking about usable intelligence, that flows to us instinctively from ordinary life experience and a basic understanding of timeless principles and human nature.

It’s not fancy, sophisticated or expensive. And it is free to all who use it. You incur a cost only when you neglect to put it into practice.

But common sense hasn’t been so common, at least over the last few months. To a greater degree than most of us would be comfortable acknowledging, we have swapped common sense for groupthink or “crowd-think” as I heard it described recently. Unfortunately, we’re not currently facing a deficit of groupthink.

Groupthink is the tendency to conform to popular opinion. It most often reveals itself in rushed decisions, during crises, and when alternate perspectives and voices are not encouraged.

Sometimes, group thinking is prevalent because consensus or a particular agenda is valued more than rational thinking or prudence.

More often than not, groupthink is the simple byproduct of intellectual laziness, impulsiveness, or a notion that everyone else knows the answers. And, sometimes it is just a reaction to fear and peer pressure.

Regardless, the collective power of groupthink tends to be counter-productive at best. In many instances, it can be tirelessly destructive—leading large groups of people to accept the herd mentality and go along with foolish ideas, even those that disregard truth or violate their cherished convictions.

Of course, at one time or another, we’ve all probably given into, or played along with, groupthink. The more immature we were, the more susceptible we were to be captivated by groupthink and popular opinion.

Nevertheless, the more confident we are in the quality of our own thinking, the less likely we are to surrender our reasoning for the sake of a group.

If you are a responsible parent, you’ve likely attempted to empower your children to “think for themselves.” I don’t know about you, but if I heard that admonition once growing up, I heard it a thousand times.

And, looking back, my worst decisions seemed to coincide with violating this principle of “thinking for myself.” That’s probably not just a coincidence, right? Consider your worst decisions. Most likely they weren’t really your decisions—except for the fact that you agreed to follow a much louder group versus your quieter inner voice.

When you think for yourself, you are more likely to make smart choices that move your career, relationship, health, and overall life in a positive direction. I strongly suspect our Creator gave each of us separate brains so that we would use them as distinct individuals, not simply to parrot the communal thought processes of our neighbors.

After all, each of us look and sound a bit different. We have distinct personalities. We have unique fingerprints and a one-of-a-kind DNA. Naturally then, we should think as individual beings, not as collective units. This means, we’ve been given the natural tools, voices, and in this country the freedom, to disagree—to have our own thoughts, perspectives, and opinions.

In my new ebook, The Challenge of a Nation, I highlight some very surprising information that will help crush fear and fuel optimism for the months ahead.

Will Group Think Win?As our country heads into the summer, we find ourselves with an abundance of data, opinions, and questions. But, there’s something more troubling we also find in abundance today—a deficit of common sense. What exactly is common sense? Well, my...

Holding On To Your Joy During Adversity & Uncertainty Difficult, trying times reveal far more about us than the good times. This is true for us individually and collectively. Think about it. What’s the virtue in being joyful when you’re on a roll when everything...

Holding On To Your Joy During Adversity & Uncertainty

Difficult, trying times reveal far more about us than the good times. This is true for us individually and collectively.

Think about it. What’s the virtue in being joyful when you’re on a roll when everything is clicking for you and going your way, and the world seems like a pretty good place?

With the sudden surge of the Coronavirus, most of us have experienced an unprecedented jolt to our confidence and sense of certainty about the future.

From the dramatic stock market crash to the sudden reality that our kids will unexpectedly be home for the next few weeks or longer, a different type of March Madness has overtaken us.

The Final Four has now officially been cancelled. Major League Baseball has been suspended. The same is true of the NBA as well. Broadway is shut down. Concerts and festivals have been postponed. Disney is closed and so on. And, did I mention our kids will be home for at least the next couple of weeks?

Incidentally, I haven’t even brought up the actual threat to our health. In the midst of these extraordinary disruptions to our sports, business, schooling and socializing, we have to potentially deal with fighting this virus personally or helping our loved ones do so, and quite possibly both of those battles simultaneously.

In tough times, there is a propensity to zero in on the threats, the things that scare us, those conditions that are “out of whack” and yet we forget about our blessings, all that is working in our lives, in our family, in our company and in our country.

This is easy to do, especially if we overindulge in the media avalanche of gloom, doom and negative forecasts produced by so-called experts and talking heads employed to sustain a 24/7 news cycle.

The masses will digest every headline, succumb to the hysteria, give into fear, bathe in hand sanitizer, participate in group think, and unabashedly fight for the last rolls of toilet paper on the shelf. Don’t be like this. It won’t strengthen your immune system, but it will most definitely hijack your joy.

As an encouragement, I wanted to share with you a handful of practical, field tested steps you can take to help preserve your joy, despite the fear and chaos that may now or could soon surround you.

1. Change The Channel

Restrict or otherwise budget your news consumption.Preferably, acquire the information you think you need about the virus via the web where you can visit your favorite source and quickly learn what you need to know without marinating in the negative and repetitive sensationalism.

Turn off any alerts and notifications from news outlets on your smart phone. Pick a time to log in for the latest updates. Consider checking three times a day: morning, noon and before dinner.

Believe me, if something consequential happens, there will be an army of unpaid news junkies who will share the headlines with you almost immediately and free of charge.

And, since you won’t be overindulging in the media, use the bonus time that has been freed up to break from the pack, proactively improve yourself and create self-determined positive headlines in your own life. Think of these positive headlines as your goals.

2. Focus On What You Can Control

While there is so much in this world, and in these unusual circumstances, that we cannot control, there is plenty that falls under our authority. For example, we can control our thought life and consequently our mindset. This is a big deal because virtually everything else we experience in life is a reflection of our frame of mind.

While other people and headlines can temporarily seize our attention, we can choose what we dwell upon. This is really good news because what we fix our minds upon determines how we feel.

We can, of course, also control what and how much we eat. It may not always be easy, convenient or fun, but we can control our diet, and what we put in our bodies either strengthens or weakens our immune system.

For example, sugar suppresses your body’s natural ability to fight disease and makes us extra vulnerable in times like these. Make smart choices. You are in control of what you feed yourself, both physically and mentally.

Since we don’t know how long before normal activities and schedules resume, it’s constructive to think about how to turn the current unforeseen situation into a net gain.

As long as you stay healthy, seek out opportunities to use the upended nature of at least the next few weeks into an advantage for you both on the business side and the personal side.

Assess and rework your goals. Identify projects that have been left undone and bring them to completion. Catch up on some organizing and decluttering around the house or office. Call and check in on your most important relationships and let them know how much you appreciate them.

If the kids are stuck at home, create ways to engage with them in more meaningful ways. Use this time to teach them about adversity, faith, group think, problem solving and, of course, how quickly life can change…from good to bad and then…back again.

You can also choose to kick off each morning with extra positivity, exercise a bit more each day, make sleep a bigger priority, and practice gratitude for the goodness in your life at this very instant.

We are experiencing a moment in time when life feels uncertain. But life is really quite unpredictable most of the time, just not so dramatically and rarely for all of us at once.

These are just a few of the constructive choices that are largely, if not entirely, under your control. What you do with this challenge is up to you.

3. Look To God

Of course, depending on God is the prudent thing to do on any given day. But at times like this, it is absolutely essential. While most of the world is swept up in virus mania, you can maintain your poise by exercising faith in the Creator of the universe.

The best way to do this is through prayer. When we pray, we demonstrate our reliance on God. With fear escalating and the stock market sinking, the seeds of panic are palpable.

It can be unnerving, but it doesn’t have to be. It is here we have to make a decision. We can choose to join in the chaos or we can choose to dwell on the Lord. Keeping our thoughts fixed on God can soothe our anxieties and help us maintain our composure even in the midst of chaos and turbulence. Could there ever be a more valuable use of our time than when we pray?

Circumstances change quickly, but God never changes.

Remind yourself of everything you know to be true about God. God is all-powerful. God is love. God is sovereign. God is always with us. God is never late or early. God is absolute truth. And so on.

Finally, here are a couple of therapeutic verses that are worthy of ongoing meditation:

One:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 (NIV)

Write this on a notecard or make this your screen saver. Repeat it over and over again. Memorize it this weekend.

For a more powerful effect, I encourage you to look up the entire passage. (Psalm 46:1-3)

Two:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

Fear is an ultra powerful emotion, but it can’t defeat FAITH unless you give in to it. You can overcome fear with faith. Affirm that God is with you. Repeat. Then repeat again and again.

Depend on God mentally, emotionally, and verbally. Let your faith come alive in times like these. Set the right example for your family and friends and everyone else you interact with, especially over the next couple of days and weeks.

You can maintain your joy.

If you will limit your consumption of news, focus on what is controllable, and rely on the Lord, you will not only preserve your joy, you will promote the kingdom of God.

Will Group Think Win?As our country heads into the summer, we find ourselves with an abundance of data, opinions, and questions. But, there’s something more troubling we also find in abundance today—a deficit of common sense. What exactly is common sense? Well, my...

Holding On To Your Joy During Adversity & Uncertainty Difficult, trying times reveal far more about us than the good times. This is true for us individually and collectively. Think about it. What’s the virtue in being joyful when you’re on a roll when everything...

Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented on this podcast are being provided to you as a thought stimulator for educational purposes only. Investing, and trading in particular, carry the risk of money loss. Trading at higher frequency carries the further risk of money loss at a quicker pace. Trade and invest at your own risk, knowing that you can lose some or all of your money. Do your own due diligence before investing or trading in any asset class or security.Your choice to engage in a particular investment or investment strategy should be based solely on your own research and evaluation of the risks involved, your financial circumstances and your investment objectives.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/3-simple-ways-to-get-hyper-focused/feed/0Don’t Go Here In Your Marriage! – Dr. Mark Crawford (PART 2)https://www.tommynewberry.com/drcrawford-part2/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/drcrawford-part2/#respondMon, 24 Feb 2020 14:44:39 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1508010Coach’s Notes: This is Part 2. Click Here for Part 1. In this week’s special two-part episode of AchievingOPTIMAL I’m speaking with clinical psychologist Dr. Mark Crawford. This show was recorded LIVE at Barnsley Resort during our recent Couples Planning Retreat. We’re going to be chatting about goals, relationships, and the science of marriage. Click […]

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/drcrawford-part2/feed/0How To Repel What You Really Wanthttps://www.tommynewberry.com/how-to-repel-what-you-really-want/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/how-to-repel-what-you-really-want/#respondWed, 19 Feb 2020 22:14:22 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507918The post How To Repel What You Really Want appeared first on America's Success Coach.
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How To Repel What You Really Want

Success is a planned outcome, not an accident. Success, casually defined as getting what YOU want out of a relationship, a job, or just life in general, is a very good thing.

This is what normal, hard-working, mentally healthy people want for their children and it’s what normal, hard-working, mentally healthy people want for themselves as well. But, this success won’t just happen by accident!

Success, as well as mediocrity (chronic underperformance), are both absolutely predictable because they follow the natural and immutable law of sowing and reaping.

Simply stated, if you want to reap more rewards, you must sow more service, contribution, and value. This is a no-nonsense, common sense formula for being a good steward of your time, talent and treasure.

God’s blessings have prerequisites! If we want to reap, we have to sow. Sometimes the sowing won’t work out so well, so we must wait longer than we’d like to reap success. Sometimes we clumsily and unknowingly plant the wrong seeds. Big deal. We start over.

So, we have to replant, hopefully, this time learning from our mistakes. So next time, we pray then plant just enough of the right seeds, but this time, we neglect to water and nurture the seeds, and success eludes us once more.

Here we go again. Now we plant plenty of the right seeds AND take exceptional care of those seeds, nurturing them with everything we’ve got. Unfortunately, a big storm comes along and washes aways the amazing seeds. This isn’t fun anymore.

But what is the alternative? So, we plant again…and pray a bit more this time…and nurture those seeds, of course. Weather works out for us this time, and with a grateful heart, we give thanks for an abundant crop!

Success in life is not based on need, but on seed. Either you become really good at planting in the springtime or really good at begging and stealing in the fall.

The Bible says, “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Unfortunately, many well-meaning folks have been deceived, confused, tricked, and misled into believing they will not be held accountable for their choices and that they will miraculously harvest something other than what they planted.

This is not the truth.

This dangerously popular distortion promotes mediocrity, victimhood, and underachievement. Consider the effort and expense Americans undertake to solve and cure diseases and social ills while they do very little, if anything, to avoid them.

It is popular today to treat symptoms, but it is commonly considered insensitive, intolerant, or otherwise offensive to speak aloud or otherwise address the root and often obvious causes of pervasive problems. As a result, a toxic attitude, that denies that effects really do have causes, continues to fester in our society.

Are YOU planting the right seeds?

By design, there are no exceptions to the law of causality. It is impartial and impersonal, and it comes to us in a particular order – sow then reap. This is not my truth or your truth. This is the truth.

If you want to repel what you really, really want in life, then disregard what you’ve just read. Otherwise, to live a successful, impactful life, make sure you are continuously organizing (and reorganizing) your thoughts, words, and behaviors with this law in mind.

Will Group Think Win?As our country heads into the summer, we find ourselves with an abundance of data, opinions, and questions. But, there’s something more troubling we also find in abundance today—a deficit of common sense. What exactly is common sense? Well, my...

Holding On To Your Joy During Adversity & Uncertainty Difficult, trying times reveal far more about us than the good times. This is true for us individually and collectively. Think about it. What’s the virtue in being joyful when you’re on a roll when everything...

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/how-to-repel-what-you-really-want/feed/0Don’t Go Here In Your Marriage! – Dr. Mark Crawford (PART 1)https://www.tommynewberry.com/drcrawford-part1/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/drcrawford-part1/#respondMon, 17 Feb 2020 13:31:45 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507850Coach’s Notes: This is Part 1. Click Here for Part 2! In this week’s special two-part episode of AchievingOPTIMAL I’m speaking with clinical psychologist Dr. Mark Crawford. This show was recorded LIVE at Barnsley Resort during our recent Couples Planning Retreat. We’re going to be chatting about goals, relationships, and the science of marriage. Click […]

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/drcrawford-part1/feed/0MARRIAGE IS GOOD… and badhttps://www.tommynewberry.com/marriage-is-good-and-bad/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/marriage-is-good-and-bad/#respondFri, 14 Feb 2020 12:42:04 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507857MARRIAGE IS GOOD and bad. This is not breaking news! Every husband and every wife are imperfect, both gifted and flawed in numerous, often unpredictable ways. Consequently, nowhere is the apostle Paul’s advice from Philippians 4:8 more valuable, more practical, or more enduring than in the arena of marriage. Consider that every thought you think […]

This is not breaking news! Every husband and every wife are imperfect, both gifted and flawed in numerous, often unpredictable ways. Consequently, nowhere is the apostle Paul’s advice from Philippians 4:8 more valuable, more practical, or more enduring than in the arena of marriage.

Consider that every thought you think about your spouse either strengthens or weakens the foundation of the relationship.

Thinking critically about your spouse, even if you believe it is warranted, will postpone true intimacy and the closeness you both desire. As relentlessly as you may try, you cannot think one thing about your mate and experience something different in the relationship.

Much of the negative thinking about your spouse occurs when he or she is not around. Nonetheless, the effects of this “invisible” negativity will, in due course, become visible in your common space as a couple.

In what ways could some 4:8 thinking bring out the best in your spouse this weekend and beyond?

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/marriage-is-good-and-bad/feed/0How Do You Talk To Yourself?https://www.tommynewberry.com/positive-self-talk/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/positive-self-talk/#respondMon, 03 Feb 2020 14:38:16 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507801Show Notes: I want to tell you the truth about positive self-talk and show you how to get started with it. What is self-talk? Self-talk is the inner dialogue that runs all the time, that inner voice, sometimes positive, sometimes negative. We all talk to ourselves. I used to be skeptic of self-talk until I […]

I want to tell you the truth about positive self-talk and show you how to get started with it.

What is self-talk?

Self-talk is the inner dialogue that runs all the time, that inner voice, sometimes positive, sometimes negative.

We all talk to ourselves.

I used to be skeptic of self-talk until I realized how many world class athletes use positive self-talk as part of the overall preparation ritual, in particular, right before events.

I started using it, and I believe so highly in the efficacy that I’ve taught it for more than 30 years.

More importantly, you can tell what someone truly believes in by what they share with those that they love. For example, I have provided my children self talk scripts over and over again. I have made them CD’s and mp3’s. I have practiced positive affirmations with them repeatedly.

When I had only been dating my wife Kristin for maybe 2 months, I made a whole stack of notecards for her with positive affirmations on them.

Does it feel a little hokey to do positive self-talk?

Absolutely.

But the option is to leave your inner dialogue, which is going to happen one way another, to chance. And you don’t want to do that.

Affirmation vs Self-talk

Affirmation is something that is more intentional.

Self-talk is automatic, and can be either positive or negative.

“An affirmation is a perfect expression of faith”

Question: “If you had full faith in God, or your abilities, or that a particular event was going to turn out favorably for you, how would you speak to yourself?”

Your self talk will be either random, or intentional. Positive or negative.

Self-talk either supports your goals, or conflicts and inhibits them.

If you are consciously wanting to reach a goal, but unconsciously, there is this voice that is telling you, you can’t do it…This causes you to be double-minded, and when you are double-minded you are unstable, and certainly not optimal.

I want you to be consistent and congruent.

In fact, I want your prayers, thoughts, words, and behaviors to all be in sync.

Now, we are never going to be perfect with this, but we can work at it and get better and better indefinitely.

In todays session I want to encourage you to revisit the power and benefits of positive self-talk.

Benefits of intentional, positive self-talk:

1.

The most important benefit of positive self-talk is that it has a displacement value.

In other words, when you’re saying something positive and encouraging, you are displacing something negative or mediocre that may have otherwise been occupying space in your mind.

So when I’m saying:

“I fell healthy, I feel happy, I feel terrific.”

Maybe I do, maybe I don’t.

But by saying that I am giving my brain an instruction for what I want it to help me create.

More importantly, I’m displacing any negative thought that may be lingering in my mind.

Back when I was still playing baseball I would talk to myself in a positive way before I got up to bat.

“See the ball, see the ball, see the ball, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it”

This is not some magic pill. But when I am saying these constructive things, the negative thoughts don’t have any place to disrupt my thinking.

2.

Because you are intentionally filling your mind with the right thoughts, you become very sensitive to circumstances, to other thought impulses, to what other people are saying.

You become highly sensitized to as to whether or not your thought life is supportive of the goals you want to reach, whether, for example, what you’re watching in the evening is moving you toward your goal or away from your goal.

The more that you are affirming who you want to become and what you want to achieve, the more sensitive you become to your own self talk and whether or not it is alignment with who you want to become.

This creates another benefit, which is an accountability mechanism.

3.

If you’re constantly affirming what you want and you’re not behaving in a manor consistent with that intention, you will “call yourself out.” This “self-coaching” is very powerful and productive.

4.

Because you have this built-in accountability mechanism, it minimizes drift.

Drift, as I’ve observed over the decades, is the main reason people get off track.

They don’t just fall off track all at once. They drift just a little bit at a time.

A little bit, A little bit. A little bit.

That’s how people get off track in any area in life. It’s very seldom abrupt. Its drift, drift, drift.

With positive self talk, there is a protective stop, a firewall, that prevents you from getting too far off track without realizing it.

5.

When you use positive self-talk, your confidence is boosted.

The more you are using positive self talk intentionally, the less you will be distracted by negative unintentional thoughts that weaken your confidence.

You will no longer be dependent on others building you up, and you will have a defense for those who bring you down.

Positive self-talk takes time to help your performance. It is like planting a seed. Most people who’ve practiced positive self-talk give up too soon, before the seeds begin to grow.

How to screw up your self talk. (Don’t do this!)

1. Be reactive and just let it happen. This takes no effort at all. You let your circumstances determine what thoughts you think…being on mental autopilot.

2. Thinking that positive self talk is a quick fix. It is a fix, but it is not a quick fix. You have to plan’t the seeds and be confidently patient, like you would in planting a garden or sticking with your diet.

It is estimated that we think 50,000 thoughts a day. How many of those thoughts are congruent with the person you intend to become? The purpose of self talk is to increase that number, day by day by day.

3. Neglecting to align your behavior with your self-talk and affirmation. We want your self-talk to be a support mechanism for your goal achievement. You can’t just sit on the couch and practice positive self-talk and reach your goals. Not going to happen like that.

How to get started with self-talk

Focus. Pick a particular goal.

Maybe it’s a relationship goal, fitness goal, or financial goal.

Write it as specifically and clearly as you can with a deadline.

Draft 10 supporting statements.

These 10 statements are your affirmations or positive self-talk statements.

Put them on a notecard so that you can flip through them throughout the day.

Use the PEPP formula.

Postive.

Emotion Provoking.

Personal.

Present tense.

For example, if you had a goal to get lean, you might think and repeat to yourself:

“I am lean and strong”

“I eat the right amount for perfect fitness”

“I drink my bodyweight in ounces”

“I have great self-discipline”

“I exercise daily”

Etc…

Put one affirmation per notecard.

Review it and flip through the notecards as frequently as possible.

Recap.

-Self talk is a tool, not a magic wand.

-Repetition and emotion produce results.

-Work on one area of your life at a time, then spread this practice to another area of your life.

-Make intentional self-talk part of your daily success discipline.

Remember my job is to help you reach the right goals faster, because….

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/positive-self-talk/feed/0Are You On The Right Mental Diet?https://www.tommynewberry.com/ao-positivementalnutrition/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/ao-positivementalnutrition/#respondWed, 22 Jan 2020 13:19:06 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507690 Show Notes: In this weeks episode of AchievingOPTIMAL I want to focus on a fundamental practice that drives your entire thought process. This fundamental is: Positive Mental Nutrition. In fact, if you’re not aware of Positive Mental Nutrition (and especially negative mental nutrition) it can really drain you of energy and motivation. Think about […]

In this weeks episode of AchievingOPTIMAL I want to focus on a fundamental practice that drives your entire thought process.

This fundamental is: Positive Mental Nutrition.

In fact, if you’re not aware of Positive Mental Nutrition (and especially negative mental nutrition) it can really drain you of energy and motivation.

Think about this… to achieve a healthy body you’ve got to have the right quantity and variety of nutrient dense foods. You’ve got to drink the right amount of water, workout, sleep, and take the right supplements.

If you wanted to be healthy, you wouldn’t skip sleep, stop working out, eat unhealthy, greasy and sugary foods.

Let’s say you wanted to lose weight… you would decide in advance: here are the foods I’m going to eat, and here are the foods I’m not going to eat,

That’s your physical diet. Maybe low carb, or low fat? Who knows?

Whatever diet you choose, you are deciding in advance what you’re going to consume and what you’re not going to consume .

One of the things I’ve found working with clients over the years is that they’ve got to stock their fridge and pantry with healthy food and drink choices if they want to reach their goal of becoming physically fit.

If they are really committed to being healthy and fit, and they are clear on what they should eat and shouldn’t eat, but their fridge and pantry are stocked with unhealthy options, that creates a much higher likelihood of failure. Keeping unhealthy food at home moves them away from their goal and often triumphs because it forces an extra degree of discipline to stick with their diet when you are in the presence of junk food.

The same exact thing is true with your mental diet.

The key is to prep your environment.

Think of this as your “mental fridge” or “mental pantry.”

Only keep things that make you healthier and more joyful around in your surroundings.

“A healthy mind produces joy like a healthy body produces energy”

If you don’t have joy, that should tell you that something is not right. Joy is your natural state.

A lack of joy can almost always can be traced back to negative mental nutrition. Allowing junk in your mind shifts your focus to what’s missing or deficient or broken.

If you’re low on energy, it’s likely because you’re not eating or drinking the right things.

There’s a very interesting parallel between healthy physical nutrition and Positive Mental Nutrition.

If you will just commit to 15 minutes a day of making sure that you consume Positive Mental Nutrition, it can transform your mindset.

If you transform your mindset, you transform your habits.

If you transform your habits, then you start to get better results.

The 15 Minute Miracle

I often call this the 15 minutes miracle.

Let’s do some math.

15 minutes every day for a week ends up being 1 hour and 45 minutes.

So what if you took 15 min each day to fill your mind with something inspiring, motivational, educational, or informative.

You could swap out 15 minutes of watching random TV episode or scrolling through social media.

Or just wake up an extra 15 minutes early to create this opportunity time.

15 minutes a day is….

1 hour 45 minutes a week

7 and a half hours a month

22 and a half hours a quarter

90 hours a year… that’s two 45 hour work weeks.

This could transform your life.

Why 15 minutes?

I wanted to show you how just a little bit every day can make a huge difference.

Imagine if you did an hour a day.

It would come out to 15, 24-hour days. Or 46, 8-hour days.

That is like a month and a half of work.

We know that it is very important to guard your heart, which means to guard your mind, because whatever goes in, comes out.

If it comes out, it was at some point put in.

That is why it is important to not let things into your system that move you way from the person that you’re capable of becoming.

It’s really important to be strategic about what you allow into your mind.

Often the reason that you’re not feeling 1000%, that you’re not as ambitious or motivated as you would like to be, or excited about the future, is because you’re feeding yourself the wrong mental diet.

You are a sponge.

We are constantly soaking up everything around us.

Everything counts.

You don’t have to be obsessive… but maybe that wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Pay attention to the things that you read, watch, and listen to. And this includes surfing the Internet, conversing with other people, etc…All of this shapes and molds your mindset which means it shapes and molds your outlook on life, the habits and activities you engage in, and ultimately the results that you generate.

My challenge to you…

Chose a time during the day to take 15 minutes to make sure you are consuming Positive Mental Nutrition.

Two good options:

The first 15 minutes in the morning or the last 15 minutes before bed.

During this 15 minute stretch, inspire yourself.

Read the Bible.

Read an inspirational book.

Read something that will elevate your relationships.

Read something that will allow you to serve others better.

Other opportunities…

In the car or train while you are commuting.

While you are exercising.

While doing chores or cleaning up around the house.

While you are showering.

Anytime you are doing a mindless task, try listening to an audiobook or podcast.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/ao-positivementalnutrition/feed/0Dominate Your 20shttps://www.tommynewberry.com/dominateyour20s/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/dominateyour20s/#respondMon, 13 Jan 2020 22:39:53 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507592Show Notes: Dominate Your 20s If you’re in your 20s or if you have loved ones such as your children who are in theirs 20s, this show is for you. Over the years, I have worked with many teenagers and young adults on what it takes to succeed ensuring they have the right foundation for […]

If you’re in your 20s or if you have loved ones such as your children who are in theirs 20s, this show is for you.

Over the years, I have worked with many teenagers and young adults on what it takes to succeed ensuring they have the right foundation for success.

Your 20s is an amazing decade of life, especially when it comes to establishing the foundation of a high-character, high-performance way of living.

What you do, or what you neglect to do, between graduation from college and your 30th birthday is huge. It sets the tone for the rest of your life.

Avoid the mindset of the “extended college mentality” or “extended college lifestyle.”

If you haven’t already, now that you’re out in the real world, you want to start thinking like a totally responsible individual.h

When you wake up on your 30th birthday, be where you want to be in life. Accomplish what you intend to accomplish.

Think about your 20s as your freshman decade.

You’re in your freshman decade right now. What does that mean to you?

A lot is going to happen in this age range that will influence the rest of your life.

Your 20s is the ideal time to set the foundation for an exceptional life, to create the habits that will build the momentum going forward.

You don’t want to make it to age 32, then look back and say, “I wasted a lot of time.” That will be a painful moment and painful realization.

Here are some recommendations to help you achieve your best. Compare yourself against these standards and see how you measure up.

Train to win.

Train to win. Train to crush it. I want you to be one of the most successful people you know on your 30th birthday. Zoom in on that picture.

Seize the decade.

How do you do that? You seize the decade by seizing each and every day. And that begins with thinking back from the future.

Define optimal.

I want you to define what optimal is.

I want you to think about what would make your life perfect at age 35.

If you had everything you wanted at age 35, what would you have? What would be true, that’s not 100% true today?

What would be in your life? Who would be in your life? What and who would NOT be in your life?

Define that now.

Invest a couple of hours reflecting about what you really really want. Then plan back from that.

Ask yourself the same questions for age 30, then 28 and 26 and so on. This is the piece that is often not done.

It is real easy to move on in life without having a long time perspective.

“You should be very very interested in your future because your going to be spending the rest of your life there”

Set meaningful goals.

Don’t stress about it. You can always change them later.

Establish meaningful goals.

“Think with your fingers.” Either with old fashioned pen and paper – write out the things you want to be true. Or create a document.

Clarify what you want…

Relationally

Financially

Career

Fitness

Faith

Fun

etc…

Define what you want, why you want it, and how you’re going to go about getting it.

Get serious about success. Unfortunately, not that many people are very serious about success.

You will be the exception.

Build success character.

If you are in your early 20s or that general phase of life.

You probably grew up with many different influences shaping what you believe about the world.

Today, I’m not covering the soft character qualities like compassion, empathy, patience, etc…

These are important. But what I want to talk about is success character.

This will be the difference that will accelerate your progress and help you get from where you are now to where you really want to be down the road.

-Winning mindset.

-Work ethic.

-Focus

-Intentional relationships.

-Service and value creation.

Winning Mindset.

It begins with your outlook or worldview.

Be a good steward of your potential. This is an obligation that you have. Become everything that God created you to become.

Success is about stewardship.

You have been given talents, time, opportunities, and it’s very important that whatever you multiply what you have been given. This is stewardship.

Believe in abundance.

If you apply the principles of success, plant the right seeds, and refuse to give up, you can succeed and everyone else around you can succeed as well. All truly successful individuals understand this.

We can all succeed and maximize our full potential.

Success in real life is not a zero sum game.

The flip side of this is the “poverty mindset.” Or scarcity mindset.

“If you win, then I loose”

“If you earn more, I earn less”

“When you become more successful, it makes me less successful. ” “There’s not enough to go around.” This is all nonsense.

Stay away from people who think or talk like this. Avoid exposure that promote this toxic mentality.

Success is a blessing.

Your success blesses others.

When you succeed you create a ripple effect.

For example, when someone starts a business and the business does well it creates jobs.

When you succeed, it’s almost impossible to not bring other people with you.

Self image. (How you think about yourself right now)

A lot of your mindset has to do with how you see yourself.

This is generally developed by what you say to yourself and what you believe.

It is also developed based on what the people you love and care about say about you.

Self ideal.(Future image of yourself, who you might one day become.)

Everybody has a self-ideal. Be more intentional and deliberate with the development of this mental construct. Otherwise you will be on autopilot and let others shape your destiny.

In your 20s you can make your life whatever you want to want to make of it if…

…If you are willing to get clear on what you’re trying to accomplish and are willing to work really hard.

4:8 Mindset (Optimistic Mindset)

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

In any situation you have the choice to either focus on the good or the bad.

Extreme ownership (see Jocko Willink)

Ownership of your thoughts.

Ownership of your words.

Ownership of your actions.

Create an excuse free zone.

Say “I am responsible” all the time.

It may be painful at first, but it is actually very freeing.

Pretending to be a victim slows your growth.

Work Ethic

In your 20s, outwork everyone.

Leverage your discretionary time.

Evenings. Weekends. Vacations.

In your 20s, be more focused on preparing for your 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s than simply entertaining yourself.

Make sure you are using extra time every day to get ahead, to do more than the average person.

If you just do what everyone else is doing, you can only go at that pace, which produces mediocrity at best.

Sleep and Work

There is a phase of life when for at least 5 nights a week, you go to sleep early and you get up early and you go to work.

Stress and recovery!

Don’t maintain a lifestyle form college where you stay up late and sleep in until the last possible moment.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/dominateyour20s/feed/05 Questions High Achievers Askhttps://www.tommynewberry.com/5questions/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/5questions/#respondMon, 06 Jan 2020 15:30:37 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507557Show Notes: Questions shape your thinking….and your thinking shapes your life – Coach The power of questions. Questions are very powerful because they steer your thinking in either an upward or downward direction. We constantly ask ourselves questions…and answer those questions…for better or worse. As your coach, I ask questions to help you get to […]

I use the following five questions to upgrade the thinking of my clientele.

I encourage you to use these as well.

Question 1: What’s Your Goal?

“We have all been in situations where we’ve almost enjoyed wallowing in negative emotions. We nurse a grudge against someone who said something hurtful, or we sulk in response to being disappointed. But what is the end result? Will acting on the negative emotion move us in the direction of our highest good? Will that negative emotion bless those closest to us? Will it help us reach our goals? In a marriage spat, for example, is the goal to be right or to be happy?

What’s your goal?

I bombard my clients with this question for the purpose of activating their God-given reason and conscience, thereby enhancing their spontaneous decision making. Your goal should act as a filter, eliminating words, behaviors, and other emotional responses that oppose it.”

From p.213 of 40 Days to a Joy Filled Life.

By asking the question, you’re going to make better MICRO-CHOICES all day long.

We make so many small choices every day and we don’t notice them, but they accumulate.

Over time, those small choices add up.

“As a parent, for example, your emotional responses can be tempered by a clearly stated parenting goal-such as communicating love, not impatience, to your children- that weeds out irresponsible parental reactions regardless of their apparent justification.

Certainly, you will have negative triggers in your life from time to time. Fortunately, Got has provided a little gap of opportunity for his most valuable creation. This tiny space between stimuli and your response to it gives you a chance to think before you react. This will shape not only your potential for joy but also your destiny as a human being.

What’s your goal?”

What’s your goal?

Ask yourself: “What’s my goal?”

Don’t let the radio, or music, or social media drive you’re thinking.

YOU drive your own thinking by thinking about your goals.

I have found that decision making is very difficult if we are not clear on our goals.

Ask “WHAT’S MY GOAL” daily!

Question 2: What’s the most valuable use of your time right now?

Ask yourself: Whats the most valuable use of my time right now?

Constantly check yourself. Ask this question over and over again thought the day.

When you constantly ask yourself this question it prevents you from drifting off track.

Often, in the work environment, we drift towards the activities that are third in importance or second in importance.

The purpose of this question is to steer us back to number one.

Closely related is the next question…

Question 3: Whats important now?(W.I.N.)

I remember when my oldest son Ty was in the first or second grade and I wanted to help him stay focused in class.

Before parent’s night, I had a bunch of business cards created with “W.I.N. What’s Important Now” printed on them.

I went in on parent’s night and stuck a whole bunch of them in his desk (and later his book bag) so that he would eventually see them…and see them over and over again.

My goal was to prompt him repeatedly to remember our conversations about goals and focus.

Ask yourself early and often, “What’s important now?.”

What was important yesterday, an hour ago, or even fifteen minutes ago, may not be what is important NOW.

So ask throughout the day!

Question 4: Is it optimal?

This questions means a lot to me. It is very simple.

Is it optimal?

Or

Is this optimal?

The reason this is so profound is because we often settle for okay or fine.

Have you seen those AT&T commercials?

“Just OK is not OK”

I often open my talks with these videos.

Sometimes we get used to things being okay.

As long as its not “bad” we accept it.

You want to start asking yourself “Is it optimal?”

There are some things that are sub-optimal and there are things that are optimal.

Always pursue optimal.

…With how you run your life.

…With what you’re eating.

…With what you’re thinking.

Is this optimal?

Question 5: What’s the number one thing you could be doing, that if you did it constantly, would have the most positive impact on your life?

What is it?

This is a question that you can not escape or avoid.

We could tailor this question specifically for different areas of your life.

What’s the number one thing you could be doing, that if you did it constantly, would have the most positive impact on your marriage?

What’s the number one thing you could be doing, that if you did it constantly, would have the most positive impact on your financial life?

These questions harness both your creativity and your ability to focus tightly on what really makes a difference.

These questions move you toward optimal, toward the best that is possible.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/5questions/feed/0New Year’s Resolutions are for Losers!https://www.tommynewberry.com/new-years-resolutions-are-for-losers/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/new-years-resolutions-are-for-losers/#commentsMon, 30 Dec 2019 20:22:15 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507552Show Notes: New Year’s resolutions are for Losers! Winners set goals! It’s that time of year… I want to talk about something that really works. New Year’s resolutions don’t work. Research indicates about half are broken before the end of January and 90% by Valentine’s day. You are above New Year’s resolutions! You are a […]

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/new-years-resolutions-are-for-losers/feed/1Top 3 Reasons Morning Routines Fall Aparthttps://www.tommynewberry.com/top-3-reasons-morning-routines-fall-apart/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/top-3-reasons-morning-routines-fall-apart/#respondSat, 14 Dec 2019 15:25:07 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507531Show Notes: E.M.S.R. Your “Early Morning Success Ritual” is one of the most important acts of discipline you can practice. It is the foundation of a productive day. What you do first thing in the morning sets the tone for the entire day. Strong early morning success ritual = strong day. Mornings have consequences. What […]

Your “Early Morning Success Ritual” is one of the most important acts of discipline you can practice. It is the foundation of a productive day. What you do first thing in the morning sets the tone for the entire day.

Strong early morning success ritual = strong day.

Mornings have consequences.

What you do first thing in the morning has a ripple effect on the rest of the day.

Why don’t people go to the trouble to develop a E.M.S.R that really works?

They don’t realize the value + laziness

“The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day” – Henry Ward Beecher

“Million dollar habit”

3 Reasons:

Reason 1: Weak Ambition or Motivation

If you’re not that ambitious, if you don’t have huge goals, then it’s real easy to not think the morning matters. Why not stay up late, wake up late, and just go through the motions?

Some people think they are not a morning person. I think this is B.S. Over the years I have found that people with a well designed E.M.S.R. and a big enough WHY, will be motivated to wake up early…regardless of how they’ve labeled themselves in the past. I have converted many, many individuals who once described themselves as “not morning people.”

Fix: Have HUGE goals and know your WHY.

Reason 2: No Clear Focus

Problem: You wake up early to start your morning routine, but once you are up, you don’t have a plan for what you are going to do.

What constitutes a successful E.M.S.R.?

What has to happen for you to consider your Early Morning Success Ritual to be optimal?

If you don’t have a clear focus you will be scattered. You will be thinking about what you should do next, and you will probably fall out of the habit before it locks into place.

Be obsessive with your preparation. If you are going to workout in the morning, set out your workout clothes. If you are going to journal, or review your goals, make sure you have those items located, organized, and available for use in the morning when you might be a bit groggy.

The idea is to minimize the number of decisions you have to make in the morning.

If you can do any chores the night before instead of waiting until the morning, go ahead and get them done.

Fix: Get everything ready so there is no setup, no hunting for what you need, and no decision-making in the morning.

Sleep

You must get sufficient sleep, preferably optimal sleep. Choose your bedtime based on the time you must get up to not be rushed during your E.M.S.R.

If you feel groggy or tired when you wake up to do your E.M.S.R., do it anyway. Over time it will become easier and easier to get up…and will help you fall asleep easier that night.

Key Points

-To overcome weak motivation, remind yourself of the value of getting up early and grounding yourself.

-To clarify your focus, decide what you want to accomplish before most people wake up.

-To overcome lack of preparation, make a checklist and execute early the night before.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/top-3-reasons-morning-routines-fall-apart/feed/0The Number 2 Principle of Successhttps://www.tommynewberry.com/number2principle/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/number2principle/#respondMon, 02 Dec 2019 15:47:07 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507493Show Notes: If you are aware of this principle, it can lift you up quicker than just about anything else, but if you aren’t aware, it can pull you down just as fast. Yikes! Don’t wrestle with a pig. You will end up getting dirty. The pig will like it. The bucket of crabs. When […]

If you are aware of this principle, it can lift you up quicker than just about anything else, but if you aren’t aware, it can pull you down just as fast. Yikes!

Don’t wrestle with a pig. You will end up getting dirty. The pig will like it.

The bucket of crabs. When one crab tries to climb out of the bucket, the other crabs will reach up and pull that runaway crab back down with the rest of the crowd. This is just like humans.

Misery (and mediocrity) seek companionship – Those who are not growth-oriented are actively recruiting others to keep them company. Be on the look-out for these folks.

“Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” – George Washington

“Do not be fooled, bad company corrupts good character.” – I Corinthians 15:33

“Our associations are like the buttons on an elevator; they either lift us up or pull us down.” -Coach

The people we hang out with the most influence our thinking. If they influence our thinking, they affect everything else that happens to us.

Relationships have consequences.

Many natural laws aren’t convenient or nice. If you walk off a cliff, gravity will bring you down. This is not unfair or mean spirited; it is just gravity.

Likewise, it is an inescapable fact of life that sometimes the law of association will be inconvenient. Some people you hang around are harmful and toxic.

We are sponges.

We soak up the exposures around us. We become like the people we hang out with the most.

“The Nudge Principle”

We do not get punched or kicked off track in life. How do we get off track? We get off track just a little bit at a time. The negative individuals in our life nudge us off track just a little bit at a time. It can be so subtle that we hardly notice.

Be intentional with the people in your life.

Think through the people you spend most of your time with. When you’re thinking about who you spend your time with. Are you spending your time? Or are you investing your time?

How to evaluate your relationships?

Red relationships: People you shouldn’t spend time with at all.

Most people have only 1 or 2 people like this in their life.

Yellow relationships: People who you need to be careful around or limit exposure.

This might be the biggest category. People in this category aren’t aligned with your goals and values.

Green relationships: People who lift you up and move you toward the person you want to become.

Be intentional about spending most of your time with these people. Make sure your close friends are in the green.

“Make sure you’re not spending major league time with minor league people.” – Jim Rohn

When it comes to your most important relationships, the influence that they can have on you is profound. Avoid denying this truth.

Why does all this matter?

You have a legacy you are working toward… and Your Success Blesses Others!

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/number2principle/feed/0Show Notes: If you are aware of this principle, it can lift you up quicker than just about anything else, but if you aren’t aware, it can pull you down just as fast. Yikes! Don’t wrestle with a pig. You will end up getting dirty. The pig will like it.Show Notes: If you are aware of this principle, it can lift you up quicker than just about anything else, but if you aren’t aware, it can pull you down just as fast. Yikes! Don’t wrestle with a pig. You will end up getting dirty. The pig will like it. The bucket of crabs. When […]America's Success Coachclean19:17The Gratitude Mindsethttps://www.tommynewberry.com/the-gratitude-mindset/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/the-gratitude-mindset/#respondWed, 27 Nov 2019 17:23:04 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507480Show Notes: The Gratitude Mindset “The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live. He has penetrated the whole mystery of life: giving thanks for everything.” – Albert Schwietzer Questions for Reflection: -What is positive and unique about your family? -What are three of […]

“The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live. He has penetrated the whole mystery of life: giving thanks for everything.” – Albert Schwietzer

Questions for Reflection:

-What is positive and unique about your family?
-What are three of your best memories from your first year with your spouse?
-What is the most magnificent goal you have already accomplished?
-What parts of your body tend to work really well most of the time?
-In what ways has God shown his grace in your life recently?
-What is the nicest compliment you have received in the last month?
-What is the most valuable lesson you have learned from another person?
-What is the most beautiful thing you’ve seen in the last week?
-What is an old crisis or rough situation from the past that in retrospect has turned into a blessing or benefited you in some way?
-What is the number one thing you are going to be grateful for this time next year?

What is Mindset?

Mindset is the X-Factor that determines what you do with your natural talent, and with your opportunities. It includes the attitudes, assumptions, and expectations that you hold about life. It’s really how you choose to approach the different circumstances of life.…whether your habitual thinking multiplies your talent and work ethic or whether it does the reverse.

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us – and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.” -Thomas Merton

Ways to Express Your Gratitude Now (“Thanksgiving Binge”)

Here are some thought stimulators to turbocharge your gratitude. Most of these have come to me from clients over the years. Now they can be yours. Your Thanksgiving binge officially begins now.

1. At night, count your blessings silently as you drift off to sleep.
2. Count your blessings as you lie in bed in the morning after the alarm clock goes off.
3. Journal your blessings for three minutes immediately after waking up in the morning.
4. Make a list of what you expect to be thankful for ten years from now.
5. Before grace at mealtime, discuss specific things you are grateful for as a family.
6. Every day send a brief thank-you e-mail to someone who’s been helpful in any way, large or small.
7. Leave mini thank-you notes around the house to let your family know you notice their efforts.
8. Leave quick thank-you notes around the office to ensure that coworkers know you notice their efforts.
9. Make a list of twenty-one things you are grateful for, and meditate on that list for fifteen minutes without distraction.
10. Journal your blessings for three minutes before getting into bed at night.
11. Go the extra mile to help someone who has helped you.
12. Go the extra mile to help someone who has not helped you.
13. Ask God for a greater sense of awe and appreciation.
14. Create fun surprises or little rewards for those you appreciate.
15. Ask the important people in your life what makes them feel appreciated.
16. Repeat the affirmation “I am so blessed. I am so blessed.” Repeat this silently over and over again as you fall asleep, as you exercise, or as you drive somewhere by yourself.
17. Thank someone belatedly for the help, encouragement, or assistance they provided in the past.
18. Give yourself a special treat to express appreciation that you are unique and irreplaceable.
19. Show gratitude for a particular loved one as if it were your last opportunity to do so.
20. Itemize all the possessions in one room of your house. Thank God for those you’re glad to have, and then give or throw the rest away.
26. Discuss with a good friend some of the things you used to want but now you are glad you don’t have.
31. Greet everyone with the type of smile you’d exhibit if you had just received great news.
35. Write a previous teacher, coach, professor, or employer, thanking them for what you appreciate about them.
37. Show extreme gratitude for your own physical body by upgrading the way you treat it for a designated seventy-two-hour period.
38. Say a quick prayer of thanks for all the things in your life that don’t need fixing.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/the-gratitude-mindset/feed/0Show Notes: The Gratitude Mindset “The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live. He has penetrated the whole mystery of life: giving thanks for everything.Show Notes: The Gratitude Mindset “The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live. He has penetrated the whole mystery of life: giving thanks for everything.” – Albert Schwietzer Questions for Reflection: -What is positive and unique about your family? -What are three of […]America's Success Coachclean19:17How’s Life Treating You?https://www.tommynewberry.com/hows-life-treating-you/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/hows-life-treating-you/#respondFri, 22 Nov 2019 14:33:46 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507461Do you tend to feel really blessed about your life as it is today or do you feel bitter about how things have worked out so far? Or, maybe you fall somewhere in between. Would you like to achieve more, earn more and become more? Thoreau once asked, Did you ever hear of a man […]

Do you tend to feel really blessed about your life as it is today or do you feel bitter about how things have worked out so far? Or, maybe you fall somewhere in between.

Would you like to achieve more, earn more and become more?

Thoreau once asked, Did you ever hear of a man who has striven all his life faithfully toward an object and in no measure obtained it? If a man constantly aspires, is he not elevated? Did ever a man try heroism, magnanimity, truth, sincerity, and find that there was no advantage in them, that it was a vain endeavor?

I believe Thoreau was simply restating the great truth that we reap what we sow. This law isn’t discussed much these days. It seems to have slipped into the dark pit of politically incorrect speech. Regardless, truth is truth.

Thoreau was simply reminding us that good efforts eventually produce good results. Kind of a simple proposition, right?

In the long run, you will get out of life what you put into it. This includes what you want out of life, what you demand from life, and what you work toward.

There’s an old-fashioned poem that you may have come across before. It was written by Jessie Rittenhouse (sometimes attributed to Napoleon Hill) and it’s called, “My Wage.” Yes, it’s a bit linguistically antiquated, but it’s true, nonetheless, and very much worth some serious thought.

I bargained with Life for a penny, and Life would pay no more,However I begged at evening when I counted my scanty store.For Life is a just employer, he gives you what you ask,But once you have set the wages, why, you must bear the task.I worked for a menial’s hire, only to learn, dismayed,That any wage I had asked of Life, Life would have willingly paid.

Let’s take a closer look at the clear lessons in this gem. First, “I bargained with life for a penny.” If you think little and expect little, that’s what you’re going to receive. And that’s ok if that’s all you want. Just be clear on the trade off. And, don’t blame others if you someday realize you sowed the wrong seeds…or not enough seeds at all.

The second stanza reminds us that, “Life is a just employer, he gives you what you ask.” This is true to the core. Once we are out in the world, living on our own, we begin to learn that we get out of life what we put into it. This goes for our career, our relationships, our fitness, and everything else.

Sometimes rewards for productive efforts are delayed a bit, but they always come. Sooner or later, we reap what we sow. In the long run, nothing positive that you’ve done is wasted.

If you want to get more, make sure you are giving more.

Then the poem says, “But once you have set the wages, why you must bear the task.” This is an essential point. We set our “wages.” We determine what it is we want from life. We do this either overtly and emphatically with a clear goal. Or, it just happens to us when we make no decision or set no goal at all. Either way, we are establishing our own “wages.” And then we must bear the task.

If we think huge and demand a lot from ourselves, we must develop the work ethic that corresponds with ambition. This is very hard. But not nearly as hard as going through life never having made a decision or set an inspiring goal at all. Those who neglect to set their “wages” bear the heaviest task. Hoping to take the easier road, they foolishly make life far harder than it needs to be.

“That any wage I had asked of Life, Life would have willingly paid.”

I recommend you carve out some free time for a bit of deep work on your future. What is it you really, really want? What’s it worth to you?

What are the things in your life that make you feel really blessed? What’s working really well for you right now? Think about your family, your health, and your income. Think about your friends and your faith.

Think about your mindset and your outlook toward life in general. Think about your assets and your liabilities. Think about what you want to be different a decade from now.

You should be very interested in your future because you’re going to spend the rest of your life there…

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/hows-life-treating-you/feed/0Finishing Stronghttps://www.tommynewberry.com/finishing-strong/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/finishing-strong/#commentsWed, 20 Nov 2019 20:36:55 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507454﻿ Show Notes: In this episode of Achieving Optimal, I talk about Finishing Strong. I want you to finish this year strong and head into the new year with lots of momentum. We always intend to finish strong, but it’s easy to get consumed with busyness and end of year clutter. It’s easy to get […]

In this episode of Achieving Optimal, I talk about Finishing Strong. I want you to finish this year strong and head into the new year with lots of momentum. We always intend to finish strong, but it’s easy to get consumed with busyness and end of year clutter.

It’s easy to get to mid-January without having your plans fully developed.

I want to give you four ideas that you can put into practice immediately to make sure that you finish strong because finishing strong is key to starting strong.

Number 1: Immerse yourself in gratitude

-Get super appreciative of all the goodness in your life.
-Think about your victories and accomplishments, both big and small
-Write thank-you notes to those you are appreciative of
-Call those who you are especially grateful for
-Write an exhaustive list of all the things you are thankful for

Q: Who are the people in your life right now, who were not in your life a year ago, who you are grateful for?

Q: Who are the people are in your life today, that have been in your life for decades?

Q: Who are the people who, this time next year, you would like to be part of your life?

Number 2: Develop a punch-list

-Make a comprehensive list of all the things you need to accomplish before the end of the year
-The list should be as detailed as possible
-This will allow you to start the year with no loose ends
-Try to have everything completed by Christmas so you can enjoy the final week
-Take care of all your personal, household, clutter, and cleanup projects

Q: What are the things that you need to get done that will position you to go into the new year with lots of momentum?

Q: Are there maintenance items? Are there clutters items? Are there things you need to do with /car/house/school/doctor/etc…?

Number 3: Act the part.

“Act the part, become the part.” -Coach

-Begin doing the things now that you plan to start in the new year
-Don’t wait until the new year to become a better version of yourself
-“New Year’s resolutions are not goals.”
-You must be serious about things you want to improve in the new year
-Begin to act as if you have already become the person you want to be in 2020

Q: What are the upgrades that you want to see in your life in 2020.

Q: If you’re acting the part of this revised version of you, what do you need to stop doing?

Q: What do you need to remove from your life?

Number 4: Workout double

-If you usually work out twice a week, work out four times a week
-This is going to set a new pattern for you and build momentum
-It will also help prevent the weight gain that affects many people during the holiday season
-Sweat more, workout more, and listen to more positive mental nutrition
-Instead of waiting like most people until indulgence of food and drink has ended, get a head start by starting now

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/finishing-strong/feed/8﻿ Show Notes: In this episode of Achieving Optimal, I talk about Finishing Strong. I want you to finish this year strong and head into the new year with lots of momentum. We always intend to finish strong, but it’s easy to get consumed with busyness an...﻿ Show Notes: In this episode of Achieving Optimal, I talk about Finishing Strong. I want you to finish this year strong and head into the new year with lots of momentum. We always intend to finish strong, but it’s easy to get consumed with busyness and end of year clutter. It’s easy to get […]America's Success Coachclean19:17Clarityhttps://www.tommynewberry.com/clarity/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/clarity/#respondMon, 11 Nov 2019 22:19:54 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507413 Show notes: Clarity is a vital element of success. I sometimes like to joke with my audiences that lack of clarity is the root of all evil. Well… maybe its not the root of all evil, but I do believe lack of clarity is the root of underperformance in almost any area of life. […]

Clarity is a vital element of success. I sometimes like to joke with my audiences that lack of clarity is the root of all evil. Well… maybe its not the root of all evil, but I do believe lack of clarity is the root of underperformance in almost any area of life.

“You can’t change your destination immediately… but what you can do is change your direction.” – Coach

Once your are clear on what you’re trying to accomplish, the plan for how to get there becomes a lot more apparent.

4 Steps for getting clear:

Who

Think purpose, mission, legacy.

Who are you intending to become?

At the end of your life what do you want your legacy to be?

Are we leaving the kind of legacy that we want to leave?

Is your legacy something that you are going to be proud of?

2. What

What are the goals?

Are you clear on the goals you are pursing right now?

What are your goals for the next week? Month? Year? Three years? Decade?

3. Why

The driving force, the motivator.

For all of your major goals, identify the reason you must reach those goals. Shoot for at least 10-12 reasons for why reaching those goals are critical.

Review your reasons why constantly.

4. How

How are we going to get from where we are now to where we want to be?

If we don’t know exactly what we are trying to accomplish, it makes it a lot harder to come up with a plan of action steps that will take us there.

One we are clear, then we start noticing opportunities, resources, people that can help us reach our goal.

A simple plan is a list of action steps that move you closer to your goal.

Acknowledge the list of actions that move you away from your goal so that you can avoid them.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/clarity/feed/0 Show notes: Clarity is a vital element of success. I sometimes like to joke with my audiences that lack of clarity is the root of all evil. Well… maybe its not the root of all evil, but I do believe lack of clarity is the root of underperformance in ... Show notes: Clarity is a vital element of success. I sometimes like to joke with my audiences that lack of clarity is the root of all evil. Well… maybe its not the root of all evil, but I do believe lack of clarity is the root of underperformance in almost any area of life. […]America's Success Coachclean19:17Weekly Planninghttps://www.tommynewberry.com/weekly-planning-achieving-optimal/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/weekly-planning-achieving-optimal/#respondMon, 04 Nov 2019 18:22:26 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507352﻿﻿ A GREAT life is, more than anything else, an accumulation of GREAT weeks. We can all have an off day now and then, and we shouldn’t worry too much about it. But if we have an off WEEK… we need to take corrective action. Planning is when you reach into the future and pull […]

A GREAT life is, more than anything else, an accumulation of GREAT weeks. We can all have an off day now and then, and we shouldn’t worry too much about it. But if we have an off WEEK… we need to take corrective action.

Planning is when you reach into the future and pull it back to the present. In this episode of weekly planning Coach Tommy Newberry explains the importance of planning your weeks and coaches you through the steps needed to WIN your weeks.

3 Questions:

Where have you won in the last seven days?

Where have you lost in the last seven days?

What are you going to do differently?

Bonus Questions:
How strong was your performance on a scale of 1-10?
What was the biggest reason you hit your goal or fell short?
Would this weeks result be acceptable to me if they became my new standard?
What preparation is necessary ahead of actually producing better results next week?

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/weekly-planning-achieving-optimal/feed/0﻿﻿ A GREAT life is, more than anything else, an accumulation of GREAT weeks. We can all have an off day now and then, and we shouldn’t worry too much about it. But if we have an off WEEK… we need to take corrective action.﻿﻿ A GREAT life is, more than anything else, an accumulation of GREAT weeks. We can all have an off day now and then, and we shouldn’t worry too much about it. But if we have an off WEEK… we need to take corrective action. Planning is when you reach into the future and pull […]America's Success Coachclean13:25Get Back To The Basicshttps://www.tommynewberry.com/get-back-to-the-basics/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/get-back-to-the-basics/#respondMon, 14 Oct 2019 22:11:01 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507113I’ve observed throughout my life that when individuals stray from timeless principles, trouble and adversity of some kind are never far behind. You can observe this for yourself with children and adults alike. There are unwavering principles that govern each area of our lives as well as principles that govern our lives as a whole. […]

]]>I’ve observed throughout my life that when individuals stray from timeless principles, trouble and adversity of some kind are never far behind. You can observe this for yourself with children and adults alike.

There are unwavering principles that govern each area of our lives as well as principles that govern our lives as a whole. When we attempt to bend, stretch, or otherwise pervert these principles, we set ourselves up for pain and regret in the long run.

The most successful individuals who have ever walked this planet have resisted the natural human tendency to make up their own little laws of life. Likewise, if you want to develop all the potential within you, you must avoid the trendy politically correct mentality that has permeated our society.

The good news about universal principles is that they will always be there for you. No matter how often you abandon or slander them, they will still welcome you back, like the prodigal son, with open arms. You will, naturally, experience the repercussions of getting off track. This is simply how life works.

Fortunately, by responsibly organizing (or reorganizing) your life around authentic principles, you can again start experiencing positive results, and often much sooner than you may believe is possible.

In what areas of your life are you most in sync with timeless truth? In what areas have you drifted from these principles?

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/get-back-to-the-basics/feed/0WARNING: You Control The Spotlight!https://www.tommynewberry.com/warning-you-control-the-spotlight/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/warning-you-control-the-spotlight/#respondThu, 20 Jun 2019 15:18:58 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1507014Based on Philippians 4:8 in the New Testament, the 4:8 Principle states that wherever you focus your attention becomes a bigger part of your experience. This means that the content of your thought life influences your emotional life. The preceding sentence is an understatement. Your devotions most definitely produce your emotions. Consider what happens in […]

Based on Philippians 4:8 in the New Testament, the 4:8 Principle states that wherever you focus your attention becomes a bigger part of your experience. This means that the content of your thought life influences your emotional life. The preceding sentence is an understatement. Your devotions most definitely produce your emotions.

Consider what happens in a theater or stadium when a spotlight is turned on. Your awareness shifts to the object underneath the light. As you give attention to the highlighted performance, you cease paying attention to what is left in the dark. When our kids were younger, we took them to the circus several times and witnessed this scenario firsthand.

As the spotlight was aimed at one or two of the three rings, the “unused ring” was left in complete darkness. We had to strain a bit, but as we looked closely at the unlit ring, we could see the stage crew, dressed in black, making preparation for the next stunt.

Like the circus production, you will always have some degree of darkness in your life, but you can choose where you focus your spotlight. Maybe “darkness” is a bit melodramatic, maybe not. Nevertheless, remember, whatever is not under your light has far less significance…And you always control the direction of the spotlight.

This is the essence of the 4:8 Principle: If you dwell on your strengths, your blessings, your goals, and all the people who love you, then you will notice even more blessings, even more love, and even more accomplishments. You will find yourself with joy and with peace. And in this state of mind, everything in life is better. The good times are even more awesome and the tough times aren’t quite so bad.

Reflexively, we will tend to dwell on either what we fear or what most excites us. In the absence of a clear, compelling vision, you and I are more likely to defensively descend into fear thinking and away from 4:8 Thinking. But this is a choice, even if an unconscious one.

You can build any virtue into your mentality by dwelling on that virtue every single day. For example, if you intend to develop patience, meditate on patience each day and visualize your patient responses to the upcoming situations you will encounter.

Take control of your spotlight. Spend very little time thinking about what you don’t want…invest lots of time dwelling on what you definitely do want. Pay attention to your mindset like your success and happiness depends on it because it does.

Your body is composed of trillions of cells that either contribute to or detract from optimal health. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL session, wellness coach, Darren Fink, discusses how to fine-tune those cells via inflammation control, purposeful antioxidant consumption, healthy blood sugar, and the practice of detoxification.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/optimize-your-cells-optimize-your-life/feed/0Your body is composed of trillions of cells that either contribute to or detract from optimal health. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL session, wellness coach, Darren Fink, discusses how to fine-tune those cells via inflammation control,Your body is composed of trillions of cells that either contribute to or detract from optimal health. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL session, wellness coach, Darren Fink, discusses how to fine-tune those cells via inflammation control, purposeful antioxidant consumption, healthy blood sugar, and the practice of detoxification. Subscribe to Our Podcast in iTunesAmerica's Success Coachclean20:44National 4:8 Dayhttps://www.tommynewberry.com/national-48-day-2019/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/national-48-day-2019/#respondMon, 08 Apr 2019 18:51:34 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1006975We are not limited to thinking in only one way. We have the freedom to choose from an infinite number of potential thoughts. Because our thinking is not fixed, it can constantly be improved when we make the commitment to do so. Remember, each moment is a new beginning. Your future is not defined by […]

]]>We are not limited to thinking in only one way. We have the freedom to choose from an infinite number of potential thoughts.

Because our thinking is not fixed, it can constantly be improved when we make the commitment to do so.

Remember, each moment is a new beginning.

Your future is not defined by your past. Your thoughts can change, and consequently, your future life can become totally different.

Watch out. It is easy to get consumed with the obstacles and forget about the goals. It is so easy to entertain hostile, turbulent thoughts about the future and miss the gift of the present.

But when you actively practice the 4:8 Principle, you will spotlight the positive aspects of your past, present, and future. This is a much better way to work and live.

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/national-48-day-2019/feed/0Why Would You Want To Do That?https://www.tommynewberry.com/why-would-you-want-to-do-that/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/why-would-you-want-to-do-that/#commentsThu, 28 Mar 2019 15:19:26 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1006962When my son Ty was eight years old, he broke his right arm after his first football practice. He had been so excited after his first day of real contact that even before we got into the car to head home, he insisted on showing me, in slow motion, how he had learned to tackle. […]

]]>When my son Ty was eight years old, he broke his right arm after his first football practice. He had been so excited after his first day of real contact that even before we got into the car to head home, he insisted on showing me, in slow motion, how he had learned to tackle.

Unfortunately, he lost his balance and fell backward on his right arm, creating a buckle fracture just above his wrist. According to his doctor, Ty would have to be in a cast for at least six weeks to give the bone time to fully heal, and he would likely miss most of the games.

This was not a good start to the fall.

After the initial disappointment, Ty seemed to be handling the setback fairly well. Then a couple of days later, while riding home from church, he went into a negative spiral, reciting everything he could not do with only one good arm.

He was very thorough, even though his mother, Kristin, and I tried to interrupt him several times to break the self-defeating mental momentum.

What Can You Do?

When we arrived back at our house, I asked Ty to join me in my study for a few minutes. “Ty, don’t you think there are lots of things you can still do, even with your broken right arm?” I asked.
“No, not the really good things,” he replied skeptically.
“All right then,” I said, “I’m going to give you a quick exercise like I do in The 1% Club, that will show you how much you really can do.”
Because he had no choice, Ty agreed to participate—unenthusiastically.
“Ty,” I said, “write down twenty-one things you can still do with just one arm, and we’ll be done.”
With a curious look, Ty responded, “Dad, I’m in a cast. I can’t write.”

“Oh, that’s right,” I said with a laugh, wishing we could start over. “Then you talk, Ty, and I’ll write for you.”

So Ty started talking, and I started writing. Slowly, with some prodding, the first few answers came. He could read books, ride his bike, watch TV, and play video games. Those things triggered even more ideas.

Ty continued, “I could hike or run. I could play in my tree house. I could go to the movies, eat popcorn, and have M&M’s. I could still do science experiments. I could do sit-ups, take a bath, and make my bed.” As we approached the goal of twenty-one ideas, I was writing as fast as I could.

“Okay, that’s twenty-one,” I confirmed to Ty.

“Keep writing, Dad. I want to do some more,” he said, no longer annoyed with the exercise.

Finally, with thirty-five answers, Ty was ready to stop. I handed him the list he had dictated and asked him to read it aloud. As he read, I could see the excitement growing. There really were a lot of things a kid could still do with a broken arm.

“Can I go show Mom my list?” Ty asked.

“Sure,” I said, “but let me ask you one more question first. Ty, do you think we could have made just as long a list of the things you can’t do with a broken arm?” I asked, hoping to create a coachable moment.
“Yes,” he quickly answered, “but why would we want to do that?”
“Good point,” I said as I enjoyed his smile. “Go show Mom.”

Ty was learning how to win the battle of his mind and starting to understand the secret to a joy-filled life.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/why-would-you-want-to-do-that/feed/1Your Success Blesses Othershttps://www.tommynewberry.com/your-success-blesses-others/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/your-success-blesses-others/#respondMon, 18 Mar 2019 14:13:02 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1006934God created a world where one person’s success benefits the people around that person. In fact, our success creates ripples that spread out in circles far beyond us. Like pebbles dropped into a pond, those ripples intersect across communities, cultures, and even generations. God desires all His children be blessed, and He created an economic […]

God created a world where one person’s success benefits the people around that person. In fact, our success creates ripples that spread out in circles far beyond us. Like pebbles dropped into a pond, those ripples intersect across communities, cultures, and even generations.

God desires all His children be blessed, and He created an economic dynamic based upon our mutual support for one another. By His design, your success blesses others.

True success creates a cascade of abundance not only in the business world, but in all walks of life, from school teachers to homemakers, and from surgeons to salespeople to ministers. When we serve others with excellence, ripples of blessings spread far and wide.

Celebrate the service, innovation, gifts, leadership, and creativity of others. Applaud the good things they bring to the world. Learn to smile as the cameras flash for other people.

As you witness other people perfecting their crafts, serving others, or creating successful ventures, cheer them on!

Success is a good thing, and we need much more of it.

If you’re ready to grow your business,simplify your life and achieve awesome, we invite you to apply for The 1% Club coaching program today.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/your-success-blesses-others/feed/0Real Focushttps://www.tommynewberry.com/real-focus/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/real-focus/#respondWed, 06 Mar 2019 01:29:57 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1006927Goals tell your brain what to notice and pay attention to as you go about your day to day activities. In the absence of clear goals, you will simply notice too many different and unrelated things, rather than the few essential things that move you toward your goal. This approach disperses your attention and prevents […]

Goals tell your brain what to notice and pay attention to as you go about your day to day activities.

In the absence of clear goals, you will simply notice too many different and unrelated things, rather than the few essential things that move you toward your goal. This approach disperses your attention and prevents the focus that is needed to optimize your life.

Successful people figure this out prior to becoming successful and make necessary adjustments. They stop looking in every direction and instead gaze in the single direction of their most important goal.

So what is your most important goal?

Goals are easy to set and goals are even easier to ignore. This is true in business and at home. But it’s definitely more comfortable to wake up each day and wing it. Eventually, however, the consequences of “wake and wing” reveal themselves in weak results that flow from scattered attention and diffused effort.

Goals and growth go together. If you want to grow into the person God created you to become, goals clarify direction and crystallize commitment. And by goals, I mean specifically worded, outcome-based statements that spell out your intention in unambiguous, clearly measurable language.

Your blunt, accountability-driven goal statement is important because it prevents you from deluding yourself and fumbling around for too long thinking you’re winning when you’re really losing.

Without goals, few people actually grow into their full potential. Instead they hover and stagnate, repeating the same behavioral patterns that have brought them to the place they are today. They may be nice individuals, but without goals, they will be cheating themselves and the world of the distinctive talent and value they have to offer.

Growth requires focus and focus requires goals. The alternative to a focused mind is a scattered mind. A scattered mind requires no effort or discipline at all. It is the default mental setting that can be easily observed in others by glancing to your left and right.

Once you know the right goal to accomplish, really focusing on that goal brings about stunning results. But real focus means you deliberately concentrate on your goal, despite the distractions and temptations in your environment.

Real focus means you organize not just each day, but each hour and even each minute…with your goal in mind. Real focus means you make decisions with your goal in mind. Real focus means you think, speak, and act in a manner that harmonizes with your goal. Real focus means you are a serious participant in creating your best self.

With real focus, you can outperform your previous best. With real focus you can put in less time, but produce better results. With real focus, you can work less and earn more. With real focus, you can be a wise steward, increase your influence and maximize your positive impact in the marketplace and elsewhere.

With real focus, you can upgrade yourself and reinvent your future. And, with real focus, you can also repair relationships, rejuvenate your health, and rebuild any parts of your life and career that may be sub-optimal. Even better, you can do this in a surprisingly short period of time…if you get really focused.

If you are an entrepreneur and want to grow your business in a huge way without compromising your faith, family and health, we can help you.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/real-focus/feed/0Do Your Jobhttps://www.tommynewberry.com/do-your-job/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/do-your-job/#commentsTue, 05 Feb 2019 21:56:16 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1006684With Sunday’s Super Bowl just a couple of days behind us, it’s a good time to contemplate the importance of merit as an essential principle for a healthy, prosperous society. Both the Rams and the Patriots fought hard to win on Sunday, but only the Patriots woke up Monday morning in possession of the Lombardi […]

With Sunday’s Super Bowl just a couple of days behind us, it’s a good time to contemplate the importance of merit as an essential principle for a healthy, prosperous society.

Both the Rams and the Patriots fought hard to win on Sunday, but only the Patriots woke up Monday morning in possession of the Lombardi trophy. The Rams played hard but lost. They did not get a trophy. This is how it should be.

Despite numerous Super Bowl ads directly or indirectly promoting squishy, feel-good values like the “everybody can win” philosophy, the elite athletes in Mercedes-Benz Stadium were expressing what we all know: not everyone wins, nor should they.

When the game clock was running, life was good. But, when most of the “amazing” Super Bowl commercials were airing, I felt like I was suddenly stuck in a mandatory high school assembly being lectured about kindness by the guidance counselor.

The stark contrast with what the NFL and its advertisers were feeding us during commercial breaks compared with the sheer brutality of what was happening on the turf was ironic to say the least.

Sports, especially football, are a great platform for teaching the lessons of life. As we know, the principles or fundamentals of each sport are often referred to as “the basics.” In baseball, football, or lacrosse, the team that adheres to the fundamentals most consistently wins most consistently. This is how it should be.

The Patriots, under the leadership of Coach Bill Belichick and Quarterback, Tom Brady have repeatedly executed those fundamentals with precision. Reinforced with the team mantra “do your job,” the Patriots prepare meticulously, playhard (think Julian Edelman), pay attention to the details, and put team over self in order to beat their opponent.

This is how American life works as well, at least so far. It’s really no mystery at all. When we stray from the fundamentals, the seeds of losing have been planted. This is true not just in sports, but in business and marriage as well.

For individual citizens, these standards are translated into the expectation of self-reliance, personal initiative, individual responsibility, and resourcefulness. Recognizing the principles cultivated by our Founding Fathers (and teaching them to our children) illuminates our understanding and preserves the attitude of freedom for future generations.

For many decades, our country has obviously been drifting from the Founders’ formula for individual liberty and self-determination. The soaring deficit, excessive spending, and the rewarding of irresponsible behavior are just a few of the signs that we’ve been planting the wrong seeds. We have, for several generations, abandoned the principles that matter most.

Without much of a fight, we have allowed massive federal programs, and the second-rate government mindset that accompanies them to invade our lives and infect our national attitude.

And with a couple of generations of young American adults who have been deprived by modern academia of the basic tenets that undergird our nation’s unique success, this is a problem that is not going away any time soon.

Merit means winners are allowed to win. Yes, this is an old-fashioned notion, but just consider the alternative. If winners aren’t allowed to win, someone else will be picking the losers and winners. Is that the kind of society you want?

In life, like sports, we can’t always win. But the relentless effort to win, the tenacious pursuit of worthwhile goals makes us exceptional people. This dynamic should be encouraged, not discouraged.

When we follow time-tested principles, life becomes very simple. When we follow fads, life becomes very complicated. This is true for ateam, an athlete, an individual as well as for our nation.

The quick way into a mess is to neglect fundamental truths. The quickest way out of a mess is to reorient yourself in a manner consistent with what is true, right, excellent, noble and worthy of praise.

Winning is not only a good thing, it’s your job. And we should all do our job, and sometimes, we might just earn a trophy.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/do-your-job/feed/1Appreciate What You Havehttps://www.tommynewberry.com/appreciate-what-you-have/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/appreciate-what-you-have/#commentsTue, 20 Nov 2018 16:40:09 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1006433Never underestimate the power of appreciation for what you’ve been given. The moment you begin to lose a sense of gratitude, your perspective on life will become distorted and your motives will become entangled in a web of selfishness. The problem of ingratitude began with our first parents, Adam and Eve. We tend to think […]

Never underestimate the power of appreciation for what you’ve been given. The moment you begin to lose a sense of gratitude, your perspective on life will become distorted and your motives will become entangled in a web of selfishness.

The problem of ingratitude began with our first parents, Adam and Eve. We tend to think Satan tempted them to do something diabolical in the garden of Eden. But when we look at Genesis chapter three, we see a different scenario.

The devil took a subtle approach to introduce sin to the world: he undermined Adam and Eve’s confidence in the character of God by tempting them to be ungrateful for all they’d been given and to plant seeds of doubt about God’s goodness.

And it worked.

In one conversation, the fate of the world changed. Adam and Eve forgot what God had given them – life and breath, a world filled with mind-blowing beauty, and most importantly, free access to Him in a loving relationship.Instead, they allowed ingratitude to seep into their hearts. They allowed doubt to fuel fear and selfish desires to choke out a spirit of worship.

Gratitude is a spiritual measuring stick. It’s a sign of an individual whose heart is tethered to God and whose perspectives are rightly ordered. Gratitude creates a Philippians 4:8 perspective that looks for the true, the noble, the right, the pure, the lovely, the admirable, and the excellent.

When you experience a sense of gratitude, it means that you have been thinking about the good stuff in your life, such as your family, friends, health, and recent accomplishments. When you feel ungrateful, it does not necessarily mean that you are missing something essential. What it does mean is that you’ve recently been thinking too much about what you don’t have and too little about what you do have.

Appreciating our blessings doesn’t always come easily. Gratitude isn’t just a state of mind; it’s also a skill and discipline to be practiced, especially when we don’t feel like it. Gratitude is like a mental gearshift that takes us from discouragement to enthusiasm, from anxiety to inner peace.

The more you appreciate today, the more things you will notice tomorrow to be grateful for.On the flip side, the less appreciative you are today, the fewer blessings you will perceive tomorrow. The Greek philosopher Epictetus said, “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not but rejoices for those which he has.”

The power of gratitude is undeniably immense. As you learn to appreciate what you have, (and what you’re glad you don’t have), thanksgiving becomes a natural expression of your life.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/appreciate-what-you-have/feed/5Change the Channel…And Boost Your Joy!https://www.tommynewberry.com/change-the-channel-and-boost-your-joy/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/change-the-channel-and-boost-your-joy/#commentsThu, 08 Nov 2018 19:11:32 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1006410Unwanted thoughts don’t go away just because you tell them to. And, resisting an unwanted thought only entangles you and drives that thought deeper into your mind, making it even more of a distraction. The only way to rid yourself of negative thoughts is to exchange them for positive thoughts. If you are upset with your […]

Unwanted thoughts don’t go away just because you tell them to. And, resisting an unwanted thought only entangles you and drives that thought deeper into your mind, making it even more of a distraction. The only way to rid yourself of negative thoughts is to exchange them for positive thoughts.

If you are upset with your spouse and tell yourself not to be upset, you still stay tuned in to what is aggravating you, and your mood may even worsen. The solution is to transfer your attention to something else completely. When you switch to a better “mental channel,” you replace the previous, lesser “channel.” You don’t have to remain stuck on a bad program. You can change the channel.

Thoughts of discontent with your spouse can be replaced with thoughts of appreciation for the overall relationship or those aspects of the relationship that are working well right now, or could be working well with a little more focused effort.

Become hypersensitive to your thought life. Since you can be negative only when you are thinking negative thoughts, you can quickly become positive by thinking positive thoughts. Yes, it’s simple…not easy, but definitely simple. The split second you notice an unproductive thought running through your mind, replace it with something like, “I am responsible,” “I trust God,” “God is with me,” “This is temporary,” or “I can do it with God’s help.” Repeat, repeat, repeat! Be ready with your comeback before the heat of the moment. Make negative, limiting thoughts unwelcome in your mind. Give this a try.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/change-the-channel-and-boost-your-joy/feed/3Three Essential Fundamentalshttps://www.tommynewberry.com/three-essential-fundamentals/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/three-essential-fundamentals/#commentsWed, 03 Oct 2018 19:47:31 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=1006299Achieving optimal demands that you become “brilliant on the basics” as Vince Lombardi phrased it when he first took over the Green Bay Packers. If you are serious about achieving your best life, I recommend beginning with three fundamentals that you can then build upon indefinitely. First, establish your top five goals. Clarity is essential. […]

Achieving optimal demands that you become “brilliant on the basics” as Vince Lombardi phrased it when he first took over the Green Bay Packers. If you are serious about achieving your best life, I recommend beginning with three fundamentals that you can then build upon indefinitely.

First, establish your top five goals. Clarity is essential. Make sure you set goals across all areas of life. Having only business or financial goals is insufficient. Determine how you want to grow in your faith, as a husband, as a parent, in your fitness, and economically as well.

Then, set ambitious goals in each of those growth areas. It’s fine to have more than five goals, but you should be crystal clear on which of your goals are prioritized as the “top 5”. These top five should be front and center on your PortableCOACH.

The second fundamental is your weekly debrief. Once you have identified and committed to your top five goals, then the next most important fundamental is weekly planning. This means pausing once every seven days and evaluating what’s working and what’s not working in each aspect of your life. For best results, do this at the same time every week.

Most clients find early Sunday before church or early Monday morning to be optimal. Others complete this weekly debrief Friday afternoon before taking off for the weekend. Find what works best and just do it…and do it consistently. In addition to our WeeklyCOACH template, here are three questions to ask yourself once per week.

What’s gone well in the last week?

What’s not gone so well in the last week?

What am I committed to doing differently in the upcoming week?

Make sure to ask the above questions in light of your “top 5 goals.”

As simple as those three questions are, they will quickly become a game changer in how you think and course correct as well. It’s also makes sense to coach your leadership team using these same three questions on a regular basis.

The third fundamental is your early morning success ritual. Your E.M.S.R. is a deliberate and intentional way to wake up and seize the day. It is your customized collection of goal-directed morning activities that build momentum for an optimal day. With an E.M.S.R. you start the day with purpose, connect with God before you face the world, and warm up your mind, body, and spirit.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/three-essential-fundamentals/feed/1Optimize Your Environment – Optimize Your Healthhttps://www.tommynewberry.com/optimize-your-environment-optimize-your-health/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/optimize-your-environment-optimize-your-health/#respondSat, 22 Sep 2018 11:19:18 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=6291Choosing the right foods and engaging in smart exercise goes a long way to producing optimal health. But there’s another major factor to consider that is essential to your energy and vitality. I’m referring to your environment. Your physical environment, home and office especially, either enhances or compromises your health. Knowing the “what and how” […]

Choosing the right foods and engaging in smart exercise goes a long way to producing optimal health. But there’s another major factor to consider that is essential to your energy and vitality. I’m referring to your environment. Your physical environment, home and office especially, either enhances or compromises your health. Knowing the “what and how” of cleaning up your surroundings is the focus of this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL episode with our wellness coach, Darren Fink.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/optimize-your-environment-optimize-your-health/feed/0Choosing the right foods and engaging in smart exercise goes a long way to producing optimal health. But there’s another major factor to consider that is essential to your energy and vitality. I’m referring to your environment.Choosing the right foods and engaging in smart exercise goes a long way to producing optimal health. But there’s another major factor to consider that is essential to your energy and vitality. I’m referring to your environment. Your physical environment, home and office especially, either enhances or compromises your health. Knowing the “what and how” […]America's Success Coachclean17:58Optimizing Digestionhttps://www.tommynewberry.com/optimizing-digestion/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/optimizing-digestion/#respondThu, 06 Sep 2018 19:58:17 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=6259Whether you know it our not, your digestive system is ground zero for your health and vitality. The ability to absorb nutrients, eliminate toxins and avoid inflammation is essential for if you intend to have the energy to crush huge goals. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, we discuss the importance of gut health as we […]

Whether you know it our not, your digestive system is ground zero for your health and vitality. The ability to absorb nutrients, eliminate toxins and avoid inflammation is essential for if you intend to have the energy to crush huge goals. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, we discuss the importance of gut health as we continue our series with wellness coach, Darren Fink.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/optimizing-digestion/feed/0Whether you know it our not, your digestive system is ground zero for your health and vitality. The ability to absorb nutrients, eliminate toxins and avoid inflammation is essential for if you intend to have the energy to crush huge goals.Whether you know it our not, your digestive system is ground zero for your health and vitality. The ability to absorb nutrients, eliminate toxins and avoid inflammation is essential for if you intend to have the energy to crush huge goals. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, we discuss the importance of gut health as we […]America's Success Coachclean16:34What Are Your Habits?https://www.tommynewberry.com/what-are-your-habits/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/what-are-your-habits/#respondTue, 28 Aug 2018 17:06:01 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=6203Knowing what you want to achieve is not enough. Achieving your goals and living your best life requires that you line up your daily habits with your goals and aspirations for the future. Think about the habits that influence your early morning time and the habits that color your evenings. Think about your spiritual, financial, […]

Knowing what you want to achieve is not enough. Achieving your goals and living your best life requires that you line up your daily habits with your goals and aspirations for the future. Think about the habits that influence your early morning time and the habits that color your evenings. Think about your spiritual, financial, marriage, parenting and fitness habits. And, most of all, evaluate your habits of thought. In this week’s episode of AchievingOPTIMAL, we mastermind about the repeated behaviors that are shaping who you are becoming.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/what-are-your-habits/feed/0Knowing what you want to achieve is not enough. Achieving your goals and living your best life requires that you line up your daily habits with your goals and aspirations for the future. Think about the habits that influence your early morning time and...Knowing what you want to achieve is not enough. Achieving your goals and living your best life requires that you line up your daily habits with your goals and aspirations for the future. Think about the habits that influence your early morning time and the habits that color your evenings. Think about your spiritual, financial, […]America's Success Coachclean15:00Mindset & Young Professionals – Part 2https://www.tommynewberry.com/mindset-young-professionals-part-2/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/mindset-young-professionals-part-2/#respondTue, 29 May 2018 14:52:33 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=6172Working hard right out of college is not enough. When it comes to launching your career (and life), nothing matters more than developing a winning mindset. Like an internal operating system, your mindset governs your potential for crushing your goals during your twenties and beyond. In this week’s episode of AchievingOPTIMAL, we continue our series […]

Working hard right out of college is not enough. When it comes to launching your career (and life), nothing matters more than developing a winning mindset. Like an internal operating system, your mindset governs your potential for crushing your goals during your twenties and beyond. In this week’s episode of AchievingOPTIMAL, we continue our series aimed at coaching young adults toward peak performance early in life.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/mindset-young-professionals-part-2/feed/0Working hard right out of college is not enough. When it comes to launching your career (and life), nothing matters more than developing a winning mindset. Like an internal operating system, your mindset governs your potential for crushing your goals d...Working hard right out of college is not enough. When it comes to launching your career (and life), nothing matters more than developing a winning mindset. Like an internal operating system, your mindset governs your potential for crushing your goals during your twenties and beyond. In this week’s episode of AchievingOPTIMAL, we continue our series […]America's Success Coachclean20:46The Success Mindset & Young Professionalshttps://www.tommynewberry.com/the-success-mindset-young-professionals/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/the-success-mindset-young-professionals/#respondMon, 30 Apr 2018 12:51:48 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=6159Mindset is critical. It’s the leading indicator of your life’s coming attractions. Your circumstances, both personally and professionally, are a reflection of this mindset. To crush your goals early, and become unstoppable, work from the inside out. Work on the mental game. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL episode, we discuss the power of the right mindset […]

Mindset is critical. It’s the leading indicator of your life’s coming attractions. Your circumstances, both personally and professionally, are a reflection of this mindset. To crush your goals early, and become unstoppable, work from the inside out. Work on the mental game. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL episode, we discuss the power of the right mindset for young adults.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/the-success-mindset-young-professionals/feed/0Mindset is critical. It’s the leading indicator of your life’s coming attractions. Your circumstances, both personally and professionally, are a reflection of this mindset. To crush your goals early, and become unstoppable, work from the inside out.Mindset is critical. It’s the leading indicator of your life’s coming attractions. Your circumstances, both personally and professionally, are a reflection of this mindset. To crush your goals early, and become unstoppable, work from the inside out. Work on the mental game. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL episode, we discuss the power of the right mindset […]America's Success Coachclean18:34Habit Acquisition & Developmenthttps://www.tommynewberry.com/habit-acquisition-development/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/habit-acquisition-development/#respondMon, 23 Apr 2018 20:38:21 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=6158Every habit, whether helpful or hurtful, adds color and definition to your character. Constructive habits produce positive results while destructive habits become enemies of your full potential. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, we discuss the power of goal-directed habits and how to integrate them and make them stick. Subscribe to Our Podcast in iTunes

Every habit, whether helpful or hurtful, adds color and definition to your character. Constructive habits produce positive results while destructive habits become enemies of your full potential. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, we discuss the power of goal-directed habits and how to integrate them and make them stick.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/habit-acquisition-development/feed/0Every habit, whether helpful or hurtful, adds color and definition to your character. Constructive habits produce positive results while destructive habits become enemies of your full potential. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast,Every habit, whether helpful or hurtful, adds color and definition to your character. Constructive habits produce positive results while destructive habits become enemies of your full potential. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, we discuss the power of goal-directed habits and how to integrate them and make them stick. Subscribe to Our Podcast in iTunesAmerica's Success Coachclean15:00National 4:8 Dayhttps://www.tommynewberry.com/national-48-day/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/national-48-day/#respondSun, 08 Apr 2018 18:05:07 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=6155You probably didn’t know it, but today is “National 4:8 Day.” Every year, on this day, I like to have a little fun with the calendar and draw extra attention to the importance of healthy, joyful thinking. After all, it’s easy to take our thought life for granted and allow our mind to play all […]

Every year, on this day, I like to have a little fun with the calendar and draw extra attention to the importance of healthy, joyful thinking. After all, it’s easy to take our thought life for granted and allow our mind to play all sorts of tricks on us.

In the epic poem, Paradise Lost, Milton shared this profound truth: “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”

In today’s video, I’ll address why so many people are confused, sad, and mad.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/national-48-day/feed/0Joe Dillon, Insulin and Ketosishttps://www.tommynewberry.com/joe-dillon-insulin-and-ketosis/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/joe-dillon-insulin-and-ketosis/#respondTue, 13 Feb 2018 23:23:19 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=6107Getting lean is predictable, once you understand insulin management and the advantages of a ketogenic diet. By using fat for fuel, you can radically upgrade your energy, immunity and focus. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, Joe Dillon and I discuss how to get and stay super fit by increasing quality fats and proteins while eliminating […]

Getting lean is predictable, once you understand insulin management and the advantages of a ketogenic diet. By using fat for fuel, you can radically upgrade your energy, immunity and focus. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, Joe Dillon and I discuss how to get and stay super fit by increasing quality fats and proteins while eliminating all but smart carbs.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/joe-dillon-insulin-and-ketosis/feed/0Getting lean is predictable, once you understand insulin management and the advantages of a ketogenic diet. By using fat for fuel, you can radically upgrade your energy, immunity and focus. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast,Getting lean is predictable, once you understand insulin management and the advantages of a ketogenic diet. By using fat for fuel, you can radically upgrade your energy, immunity and focus. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, Joe Dillon and I discuss how to get and stay super fit by increasing quality fats and proteins while eliminating […]America's Success Coachclean14:46Good In – Good Out!https://www.tommynewberry.com/good-in-good-out/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/good-in-good-out/#respondMon, 29 Jan 2018 18:28:21 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=6100Thoughts have consequences. We plant thoughts, and we reap a mindset. Then, our mindset governs the direction our life takes. Without careful attention, our thought life (and by extension our entire life) can be adversely influenced by the random ideas, words, images and opinions that we allow to enter our mind. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL […]

Thoughts have consequences. We plant thoughts, and we reap a mindset. Then, our mindset governs the direction our life takes. Without careful attention, our thought life (and by extension our entire life) can be adversely influenced by the random ideas, words, images and opinions that we allow to enter our mind.

In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, we discuss optimizing your thought life by becoming intentional with your daily exposures and inputs.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/good-in-good-out/feed/0Thoughts have consequences. We plant thoughts, and we reap a mindset. Then, our mindset governs the direction our life takes. Without careful attention, our thought life (and by extension our entire life) can be adversely influenced by the random ideas...Thoughts have consequences. We plant thoughts, and we reap a mindset. Then, our mindset governs the direction our life takes. Without careful attention, our thought life (and by extension our entire life) can be adversely influenced by the random ideas, words, images and opinions that we allow to enter our mind. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL […]America's Success Coachclean17:55Mind, Body & Spirit with Coach Finkhttps://www.tommynewberry.com/mind-body-spirit-with-coach-fink/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/mind-body-spirit-with-coach-fink/#commentsMon, 22 Jan 2018 14:04:19 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=6097When it comes to our wellness, everything works together. Our Creator designed us to be healthy, vibrant and full of life. Through our habitual choices, though, we often sabotage this intended natural state. Our energy and vitality depends on being spiritually, emotionally, and physically fit. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, Darren and I discuss how […]

When it comes to our wellness, everything works together. Our Creator designed us to be healthy, vibrant and full of life. Through our habitual choices, though, we often sabotage this intended natural state. Our energy and vitality depends on being spiritually, emotionally, and physically fit.

In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, Darren and I discuss how unresolved negative emotions can manifest into physical ailments, and how we can prevent this from happening.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/mind-body-spirit-with-coach-fink/feed/1When it comes to our wellness, everything works together. Our Creator designed us to be healthy, vibrant and full of life. Through our habitual choices, though, we often sabotage this intended natural state.When it comes to our wellness, everything works together. Our Creator designed us to be healthy, vibrant and full of life. Through our habitual choices, though, we often sabotage this intended natural state. Our energy and vitality depends on being spiritually, emotionally, and physically fit. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, Darren and I discuss how […]America's Success Coachclean15:37It’s Not What Happens To You…https://www.tommynewberry.com/its-not-what-happens-to-you/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/its-not-what-happens-to-you/#respondFri, 12 Jan 2018 22:01:18 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=6092Eventually and inevitably, we come face to face with some type of significant difficulty. There’s really no way to avoid it. Although what happens to us may be out of our control, how we respond is not. Training and preparing yourself to deal effectively and gracefully with the struggles life throws your way is a […]

Eventually and inevitably, we come face to face with some type of significant difficulty. There’s really no way to avoid it. Although what happens to us may be out of our control, how we respond is not.

Training and preparing yourself to deal effectively and gracefully with the struggles life throws your way is a critical success skill. In this week’s AcheivingOPTIMAL podcast, I share strategies for making the best out of tough times.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/its-not-what-happens-to-you/feed/0Eventually and inevitably, we come face to face with some type of significant difficulty. There’s really no way to avoid it. Although what happens to us may be out of our control, how we respond is not. Training and preparing yourself to deal effective...Eventually and inevitably, we come face to face with some type of significant difficulty. There’s really no way to avoid it. Although what happens to us may be out of our control, how we respond is not. Training and preparing yourself to deal effectively and gracefully with the struggles life throws your way is a […]America's Success Coachclean16:21Gift the 40 Day Joy Challengehttps://www.tommynewberry.com/gift-the-40-day-joy-challenge/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/gift-the-40-day-joy-challenge/#respondSat, 16 Dec 2017 15:56:32 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=6083Joy is a state of mind that must be purposely developed if you are to live and love and influence others as God intended. As your “JOY COACH,” we can joyful mindset that will bless you and others for years to come. The 40 Day Joy Challenge is a dynamic, online video devotional that produces […]

]]>Joy is a state of mind that must be purposely developed if you are to live and love and influence others as God intended. As your “JOY COACH,” we can joyful mindset that will bless you and others for years to come.

The 40 Day Joy Challenge is a dynamic, online video devotional that produces better habits, stronger relationships, and greater joy in less than 9 minutes a day. Give the gift of JOY this Christmas!

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/gift-the-40-day-joy-challenge/feed/0Happy Thanksgivinghttps://www.tommynewberry.com/happy-thanksgiving/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/happy-thanksgiving/#commentsTue, 21 Nov 2017 17:54:42 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=6043When you appreciate things, they increase in value. Pretty cool notion, right, but how are you doing in this area? While this is true with all our blessings, this “principle of appreciation” is especially applicable with our most important relationships, experiences and opportunities. So be extra thankful because today I will coach you to become […]

When you appreciate things, they increase in value. Pretty cool notion, right, but how are you doing in this area? While this is true with all our blessings, this “principle of appreciation” is especially applicable with our most important relationships, experiences and opportunities.

So be extra thankful because today I will coach you to become highly sensitive to the value and power of gratitude in helping you live a strong, joy-filled life.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/happy-thanksgiving/feed/1Get Moving For OPTIMAL Health!https://www.tommynewberry.com/get-moving-for-optimal-health/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/get-moving-for-optimal-health/#respondTue, 24 Oct 2017 15:12:23 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=5996We, of course, have one body and one life. Therefore, it’s critical that we become excellent stewards of our health and wellness. Without sufficient energy and vitality, virtuous intentions go unfulfilled. We are designed to be active, and the less active we are, the more physical trouble we face. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, I […]

We, of course, have one body and one life. Therefore, it’s critical that we become excellent stewards of our health and wellness. Without sufficient energy and vitality, virtuous intentions go unfulfilled. We are designed to be active, and the less active we are, the more physical trouble we face.

In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, I continue my series with wellness coach Darren Fink concentrating in this episode on how to integrate more activity and movement into your daily routine.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/get-moving-for-optimal-health/feed/0We, of course, have one body and one life. Therefore, it’s critical that we become excellent stewards of our health and wellness. Without sufficient energy and vitality, virtuous intentions go unfulfilled. We are designed to be active,We, of course, have one body and one life. Therefore, it’s critical that we become excellent stewards of our health and wellness. Without sufficient energy and vitality, virtuous intentions go unfulfilled. We are designed to be active, and the less active we are, the more physical trouble we face. In this week’s AchievingOPTIMAL podcast, I […]America's Success Coachclean17:05Building Productive Habitshttps://www.tommynewberry.com/building-productive-habits/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/building-productive-habits/#commentsThu, 12 Oct 2017 17:41:12 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=5955When it comes to your habits, they all have one thing in common – they are either moving you closer to your goals, or further away from your goals. It’s that simple! Your level of success will be determined by your habits. In the short coaching video below I want to talk to you about […]

]]>When it comes to your habits, they all have one thing in common – they are either moving you closer to your goals, or further away from your goals. It’s that simple! Your level of success will be determined by your habits.

In the short coaching video below I want to talk to you about building productive habits.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/building-productive-habits/feed/8Leverage Your Strengthshttps://www.tommynewberry.com/leverage-your-strengths/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/leverage-your-strengths/#respondMon, 09 Oct 2017 20:40:59 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=5952Few things can be as counter-productive in life as investing lots of time doing the wrong things. While this seems like common sense, it is hardly common practice. Albert Einstein quipped, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live it’s whole life believing […]

]]>Few things can be as counter-productive in life as investing lots of time doing the wrong things. While this seems like common sense, it is hardly common practice.

Albert Einstein quipped,

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live it’s whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Similarly, in their classic book, Soar with Your Strengths, authors Donald Clifton and Paula Nelson share a fable about “Animal School” highlighting a rabbit who’s forced by his teachers to spend more time swimming since he is already good at running. In fact, the teacher even arranges for the rabbit to skip running class and have two periods of swimming instead.

Can you relate to this?

If we didn’t know better, particularly after years of schooling, it would be easy for us to absorb the message that the key to a successful life is through weakness-fixing. If we follow this advice and strive to become less weak at our weaknesses, however, we’ll just become weaker at our strengths.

This plan should not be followed. Don’t be so concerned about becoming well-rounded that you don’t develop your own distinct edges.

This strategy can provide you with an invaluable advantage for the rest of your life.

Virtually all world-class athletes follow the strengths principle. This means they emphasize the best parts of their game more than the worst part. For example, most PGA golfers invest their practice time reinforcing their strengths, not repairing their weaknesses.

If a specific weakness, such as hitting out of sand traps, might cost them the tournament they address it to a minimum level. But they know that champions are created from strength-building, not from weakness-fixing.

Of course, if you are a seven year old boy and haven’t yet learned to read, but happen to be a really fast runner, reading is still a weakness that might cost you the tournament.

Clearly, the key takeaway is not to ignore your weaknesses altogether, but rather to emphasize your strengths. You can achieve this by first discovering your strengths and putting them into practice to accomplish your goals and God’s will for your life.

Remember, it is no accident that you are really good at some things and not so good at other things. The same is true for everyone else.

God made you extraordinary at certain stuff for a reason. He infused your DNA at creation with particular talent because those gifts line up with His plans for your life. You are also ordinary at a lot of things as well. Get used to it. Be glad for it. It’s part of God’s plan.

And, the ordinary list will always be longer than the extraordinary list because there are far too many areas of opportunity, and there are lots of other people in this world who are really extraordinary in the areas where you are only ordinary. If you spend a lot of time on the ordinary stuff, you will sacrifice a bunch of your potential.

This is all part of God’s plan. Think about it. If you were exceptional at everything, there would be lots of unnecessary people just hanging out, clogging up the highways and taking up bandwidth. Many of your current peers and future competitors will water down their own potential by doing too many things that God created other people to do.

This is a mistake you do not need to make.

Here’s the cool thing. Since God made us as relational beings, he designed us for collaboration. He created billions of people to partner with Him to accomplish His plan for the world. I don’t understand exactly how this works, but I know He gives us roles and missions to fulfill on the tight deadline we call our lifetime.

His purpose for your life coincides with your gifts and talents, and when you pursue your God-implanted mission, you can be sure that the mission God has for your life coincides with your gifts, talents, and passions.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/leverage-your-strengths/feed/0Our Right To Be Stupidhttps://www.tommynewberry.com/our-right-to-be-stupid/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/our-right-to-be-stupid/#commentsWed, 04 Oct 2017 14:26:25 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=5934I confess I get a bit worn out hearing people talk so excessively about their rights. Why isn’t their some “national conversation” around responsibility, preferably good old-fashioned, individual responsibility? The longer I’ve lived, (and coached) the more I’ve realized that a good dose of personal responsibility solves many problems and cures many ills. This is […]

]]>I confess I get a bit worn out hearing people talk so excessively about their rights. Why isn’t their some “national conversation” around responsibility, preferably good old-fashioned, individual responsibility?

The longer I’ve lived, (and coached) the more I’ve realized that a good dose of personal responsibility solves many problems and cures many ills. This is true at home, at work and in the country.

In this nation, we clearly have issues.

It’s probably accurate to say we have hundreds of problems. Likewise, it must be acknowledged that there are thousands of blessings and opportunities that are available in abundance here in the USA.

To harp on the bad stuff without expressing appreciation for the good stuff is disingenuous at best. The opportunities here in the United States are available to anyone willing to own their thoughts, discipline their behaviors and work to become excellent in at least one area that matters to others.

No one has the right to succeed or take home a trophy. It is only a possibility. And the possibility of magnificentsuccess is always simultaneously coupled with the possibility of miserablefailure. We cannot have the hope of the good one without the possibility of the bad one.

Yes, in this country, on top of our God-given rights, we have an ever growing number of entitlements granted by the government as well.

Interestingly, we have the right to be stupid. This right does not come from our government. Instead, like our other essential rights, this one comes from our Creator. It’s called sowing and reaping.

But, just because we have a right to do something or say something…or just because something is legal or trending, does not mean it is wise.

We have the freedom to be stupid if we choose.

I define “stupid” from a behavioral vantage point. I know this is harsh, but if you repeatedly make poor decisions, for all intents and purposes, you are stupid. Stupid is as stupid does.

Poor decisions are those that are inconsistent with timeless principles. Poor decisions are those that undermine your health and happiness. Poor decisions are those that make you sell tomorrow for instant gratification today. Poor decisions are those that make you feel good about doing the wrong thing.

What’s a real shame is when people act stupidly and don’t even know it.

]]>https://www.tommynewberry.com/our-right-to-be-stupid/feed/1It All Mattershttps://www.tommynewberry.com/it-all-matters/
https://www.tommynewberry.com/it-all-matters/#commentsWed, 27 Sep 2017 06:00:47 +0000https://www.tommynewberry.com/?p=5897Early in my business career, one of my mentors shared with me two very important words. These words were, EVERYTHING COUNTS! I didn’t fully appreciate what it meant at the time, but looking back, I view these two words as some of the best advice I’ve ever received. I love the bluntness of this simple […]

]]>Early in my business career, one of my mentors shared with me two very important words. These words were, EVERYTHING COUNTS! I didn’t fully appreciate what it meant at the time, but looking back, I view these two words as some of the best advice I’ve ever received.

I love the bluntness of this simple truth. It doesn’t suggest that “some things” or “many things” or even “most things” count. Quite succinctly, it reminds us that “everything counts.”

Not only does today matter, but every moment within this day is important and generates its own future consequences of some kind or another.

Remember that, unlike football, basketball, hockey, and most other sports, there are no time outs in life. The game clock is forever ticking and there are no pause bottoms or dress rehearsals either. Its reality TV… but without the TV. Consider what this means for your future.

What you think matters. What you say matters. What you mumble to yourself matters. What you do with your time matters. What you read, surf, watch, and repeatedly listen to matters.

What you eat and drink matters. What you don’t eat and drink matters. When you go to sleep and when you wake up matters. How you dress and present yourself to others matters.

Even, and especially, the friends you choose to hang out with matters. It’s scary, but true. There is no place to hide. This is true in business, relationships, sports, health, family, and finances. It all matters. If you understand, you will instantly become part of the well-informed minority.

A lot of people will scoff at this notion, preferring instead to pretend that certain moments, certain choices, and certain behaviors are neutral and have no real impact on who you become or how your character evolves.

What you do Friday night counts, just as what you do Sunday morning or Thursday afternoon counts. Stay alert as cultural and media-driven influences will cleverly convince us to sell the future for the present.

Fortunately, there’s no need to become an uptight and anxious “stick-in-the-mud.” To the contrary, it’s important to have fun, appreciate spontaneity, and experience carefreeness.

The reason I am emphasizing this truth is to encourage you to organize your goals, plans, hopes and dreams, in fact, your entire life around it.

Become wise enough to consistently make smart choices, knowing that both actions and inactions eventually produce corresponding consequences.

In which areas of your life should you pay more attention and be more conscientious in the next 7 days?